<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">The Women. <br xmlns:exist="http://exist.sourceforge.net/NS/exist" xmlns:html="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"/></h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line">BECAUSE we stand unharmed within the gate, </p><p class="line">And hear the roar of battle surging by;</p><p class="line">Because it is our lot to watch and wait,</p><p class="line">And waiting send our dearest out to die,</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Is it a little thing we do, who give</p><p class="line">Our kith and kin, our brothers, husbands, sons,</p><p class="line">And must ourselves untouched, unwounded, live,</p><p class="line">Whilst they are broken by the reeking guns?</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">It is our courage that enkindles theirs,</p><p class="line">Our strength that holds them steady, front andflank,</p><p class="line">And where the oriflamme of battle flares</p><p class="line">Our souls, in them, go marching rank on rank.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Because we give our dearest to be food</p><p class="line">For lyddite, shrapnel, mitrailleuse and shell,</p><p class="line">Ungrudging send our very flesh and blood</p><p class="line">To brim the over-brimming deeps of hell,</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Amid the rattle of artillery, </p><p class="line">The clang of steel where sword on sabre jars,</p><p class="line">Not they who die, not they alone, but we,</p><p class="line">Uphold the Flag against the constant stars.</p></div><p class="byline">B. M. Hetherington.</p>(The <em>Bookman</em>.)</body></html> · Great War