<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="" class="head">City of Granite Tower</h1><h1 align="" class="head">i</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line">City of granite tower and granite spire,</p><p class="line">Of grim, indomitable granite will,</p><p class="line">Deep in your granite heart the cosmic fire</p><p class="line">Is burning still,</p><p class="line">Building immortal mountains for the world,</p><p class="line">New Sinais and new Pisgahs; and unfurled--</p><p class="line">Magnificently whirled</p><p class="line">By tempests of your pity, and your ire</p><p class="line">Like leaping flame athwart the heavens blown--</p><p class="line">I see the banners of your fierce desire</p><p class="line">To set white Freedom on a lofty throne,</p><p class="line">Made as of granite stone,</p><p class="line">And as by surges of your Northern Sea,</p><p class="line">Girt by your souls and swords impregnably;</p><p class="line">And gleaming bright,</p><p class="line">Crimson and white</p><p class="line">Like surf that breaks upon your granite coasts,</p><p class="line">Tinged by a sunrise red,</p><p class="line">I see great hosts</p><p class="line">Of men and ghosts--</p><p class="line">The armies of your living and your dead.</p><p class="line">I hear the rhythmic pulsing ocean tread</p><p class="line">Of thousands of triumphant marching feet;</p><p class="line">I hear the thundering, tremendous beat</p><p class="line">Of thousands of heroic hearts whose blood</p><p class="line">Rolls like a crimson flood,</p><p class="line">Drawn by a splendid dream,</p><p class="line">Injustice to avenge, dishonour to redeem.</p></div><h1 align="" class="head">ii</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line">From Ben Muick Dhui gaunt and grey,</p><p class="line">From granite cairns of Lochnagar,</p><p class="line">From Buchan Ness</p><p class="line">And Dyce and Dess,</p><p class="line">From Cruden Bay</p><p class="line">And Craigievar,</p><p class="line">From moors of Dinnet and Braemar,</p><p class="line">From banks of Dee and banks of Don,</p><p class="line">From Callater and Loch Kinord,</p><p class="line">O'er purple heath and thymy sward,</p><p class="line">A surging sea of soul and sword,</p><p class="line">I see them flowing, flaming on.</p></div><h1 align="" class="head">iii</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Boys of the moor, and of the field,</p><p class="line">Boys of the office, and the plough,</p><p class="line">From castle, college, manse, and bield,</p><p class="line">With hero's heart and dreamer's brow,</p><p class="line">I see them marching, marching now.</p><p class="line">I see them by the crumbling crown</p><p class="line">Of "Kings," and where the granite spires</p><p class="line">Of "Marischal" soar like altar fires</p><p class="line">Above the traffic of the town,</p><p class="line">In leafy lane and stony street,</p><p class="line">Their white and crimson surge I meet,</p><p class="line">A torrent flowing, flowing down</p><p class="line">To the rhythmic fall of marching feet.</p></div><h1 align="" class="head">iv</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line">I who have felt the North-Sea brine</p><p class="line">Upon my lips, whose eyes have seen</p><p class="line">The sunlight and the moonlight shine</p><p class="line">On the white streets of Aberdeen--</p><p class="line">I who have walked in scarlet gown</p><p class="line">Beneath the crumbling granite crown,</p><p class="line">Who still in fancy and in dreams</p><p class="line">Climb Lochnagar</p><p class="line">And hear afar</p><p class="line">The music of its mountain streams,</p><p class="line">Whose heart is still</p><p class="line">In every rill,</p><p class="line">Whose hopes wade knee-deep in the heather--</p><p class="line">Surely I know</p><p class="line">Where these boys go.</p><p class="line">My soul and theirs must go together,</p><p class="line">That mine their blood and mine their breath,</p><p class="line">Their fame, their shame, their life, their death.</p></div></body></html> · Great War