<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head"> The Rivers of France</h1><p class="byline"> H. J. M. <br xmlns:exist="http://exist.sourceforge.net/NS/exist" xmlns:html="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"/><span class="smallcaps">IN The English Review</span></p><div class="stanza"><p class="line">THE rivers of France are ten score and twain,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">But five are the names that we know--</p><p class="line">The Marne, the Vesle, the Ourcq, and the Aisne,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">And the Somme of the swampy flow.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">The rivers of France, from source to the sea,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Are nourished by many a rill,</p><p class="line">But these five, if ever a drought there be,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">The fountains of sorrow would fill.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">The rivers of France shine silvery white,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">But the waters of five are red</p><p class="line">With the richest blood, in the fiercest fight</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">For Freedom, that ever was shed.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">The rivers of France sing soft as they run,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">But five have a song of their own,</p><p class="line">That hymns the fall of the arrogant one</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">And the proud cast down from his throne.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">The rivers of France all quietly take</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">To sleep in the house of their birth,</p><p class="line">But the carnadined wave of five shall break</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">On the uttermost strands of Earth.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Five rivers of France, see their names are writ </p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">On a banner of crimson and gold,</p><p class="line">And the glory of those who fashioned it</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Shall nevermore cease to be told. </p></div></body></html> · Great War