<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">Another Call to Arms</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line">TAKE up your arms, my soldier. </p><p class="line">You were not meant to fight, </p><p class="line">For Loveliness has given to you </p><p class="line">Her spirit of delight;</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">And you have fought with demons </p><p class="line">These armies never knew: </p><p class="line">The direst enemies of Life </p><p class="line">Have been afraid of you;</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">And while through sloth and weakness </p><p class="line">Men let the monsters loose, </p><p class="line">You fought for Life's great loveliness </p><p class="line">And sought Life's perfect use.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Yet now from your high mountain </p><p class="line">I bid you wend your way </p><p class="line">To dip your hands in carnage, </p><p class="line">And like Death's hireling, slay.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Arid now you stand and tremble, </p><p class="line">Now terror gapes at you </p><p class="line">Whom Courage never offered </p><p class="line">A task you could not do.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Take up your arms, my soldier; </p><p class="line">No cross of wood is yours, </p><p class="line">Before you reach Gethsemane </p><p class="line">Blood from your spirit pours.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">And you shall die, my soldier, </p><p class="line">The day you swear to kill: </p><p class="line">Take up your arms, my soldier, </p><p class="line">And do it with a will.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">For in your weakest brother </p><p class="line">Your soul must find a place; </p><p class="line">Now for that greater selfhood </p><p class="line">Your little self efface.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">The nations move as children </p><p class="line">And you must be a child. </p><p class="line">Take up your arms, my soldier, </p><p class="line">Nor think your soul defiled.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Liberty in her travail </p><p class="line">Has pains too deep for thought; </p><p class="line">And many skeins are tangled </p><p class="line">Ere Fate's design is wrought.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Die on the cross, my soldier, </p><p class="line">Nor pray the cup pass by, </p><p class="line">For he shall rise transfigured </p><p class="line">Who knows the hour to die.</p></div><p class="byline">Max Plowman</p>(The <em>Daily News>, July 12th, 1915)</em></body></html> · Great War