<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">"The Crosses."<br xmlns:exist="http://exist.sourceforge.net/NS/exist" xmlns:html="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"/><span class="smallcaps">Belgium 1914-15</span></h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line">O'ER countless mounds on wide grey plain, </p><p class="line">The crosses stand against the sky, </p><p class="line">For requiem, the sullen roar</p><p class="line">Of cannon, as the wind sweeps by. </p><p class="line">And he lies there; why do we weep? </p><p class="line">God giveth our beloved-sleep.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">What did we hope for him we loved?</p><p class="line">Life full and fair, success, renown ? </p><p class="line">Nay, greater fame can no man win</p><p class="line">Than a life laid nobly down </p><p class="line">For England's needs; a soldier's death </p><p class="line">God giveth him-the Victor's wreath</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">What matters Time, if he fulfilled</p><p class="line">God's purpose in the day of need? </p><p class="line">Outweighs a hundred empty years</p><p class="line">One glorious hour, one noble deed </p><p class="line">We asked full life, O God, of Thee, </p><p class="line">And Thou didst give-Eternity!</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">O'er exiled dead, o'er hearts at home,</p><p class="line">The Cross's Shadow fills the land. </p><p class="line">'Tis Thine the cause for which they die,</p><p class="line">O God! their souls are in Thy Hand. </p><p class="line">For Country, right, and loyal word, </p><p class="line">We plead their sacrifice, O Lord!</p></div><p class="byline">A. B. L.</p>(The <em>Observer</em></body></html> · Great War