<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">For the Airmen. </h1><h1 align="" class="head"><em>(Included as a tribute to the ever-glorious memory of Fight-Lieutenant Warneford, V.C.).</em></h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line"></p><p class="line">THOU who guidest the swallow and wren, </p><p class="line">Keep the paths of the flying men.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Over the mountains, over the seas, </p><p class="line">Thou hast given the bird-folk compasses.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Thou guidest them, yea, Thou leadest them home </p><p class="line">By the trackless ways and the venturesome.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Look Thou, then, on these bird-men, far </p><p class="line">More than the sparrows and swallows are.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">When they fly in the wintry weather, </p><p class="line">Be their compass and chart together.</p><p class="line"></p><p class="line">Keep them riding the wind; uphold </p><p class="line">Their passion for flight lest it grow cold.</p></div><p class="line">Thy right hand be under the wing, </p><p class="line">Thy left hand for their steadying.</p><div class="stanza"><p class="line">The wings of the birds of Heaven be nigh, </p><p class="line">Lest their wings fail them and they die.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Make Thou their flying as deft and fleet </p><p class="line">As the flight of the linnet or the blue tit.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Thy hand over them, shall they fear </p><p class="line">The spears of lightning or any spear?</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Thy hands under them, what shall appal? </p><p class="line">Not the fierce foe nor the sudden fall.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Show them Thy moon at night: </p><p class="line">Thy stars Bid stand as sentinels in their wars.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Yea, make their lone tracks pleasant as </p><p class="line">A soft meandering path in grass.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Thou that launchest the wren, the swallow, </p><p class="line">Guard our flying loves when they follow.</p></div><p class="byline">Katharine Tynan".</p>(The <em>Windsor Magazine</em>, July, 1915</body></html> · Great War