<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">The Spirit of England</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line"><span class="smallcaps">My</span> sea-winds I gather, my fields I fill</p><p class="line">With life-giving roots and grain.</p><p class="line">My sons I unite for my greatest fight</p><p class="line">My dream and desire to gain.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">My land I have clothed in its fairest garb,</p><p class="line">Corn-yellow and green and blue.</p><p class="line">I arise in my pride, once more to decide</p><p class="line">In the conflict of false and true.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">I summon to battle from plain and hill,</p><p class="line">From woodland and fen and dale,</p><p class="line">From my reeking towns and greyhound downs</p><p class="line">My men to be cast in the scale.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">My flesh still quivers. The poisoned barb</p><p class="line">By treacherous foe is flung.</p><p class="line">I have plucked it out; my children shout</p><p class="line">Of the vengeance to be wrung.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">But I seek no vengeance, nor demand</p><p class="line">An eye for an eye, nor tooth</p><p class="line">For tooth. I desire to raise from the mire</p><p class="line">My vision of peace and truth.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">I have cleansed the seas, and have opened them</p><p class="line">To traffic of many ships:</p><p class="line">I would purge the land with the same firm hand</p><p class="line">To let peace know no eclipse.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">My dreams are challenged. I make my stand.</p><p class="line">My vision shall still prevail.</p><p class="line">From my white tower I send my power</p><p class="line">Arrayed in its proven mail.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">No glory I covet, nor diadem,</p><p class="line">Save honour and peace of soul,</p><p class="line">But to see far-flung as my singers have sung</p><p class="line">My Freedom from pole to pole.</p></div><p class="byline">GILBERT CANNAN</p><em>Saturday Review, August</em> 15, 1914</body></html> · Great War