<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="" class="head">The New Year<a class="footnote" href="#moresongsp66n1" name="moresongsp66n1-link" xmlns:html="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">*</a></h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line">THE white moon like a queenly ship</p><p class="line">Sails down the blue and tropic night.</p><p class="line">And all the clouds in homage slip</p><p class="line">Into her light.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">A quiet veil lies on the earth.</p><p class="line">Whose silver glory makes me sad—</p><p class="line">Beyond, ah me! War's crashing mirth</p><p class="line">Rings wild and mad.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Begone, old year, pass from thy own.</p><p class="line">And make thou way for newer life;</p><p class="line">Nor grace nor pity will atone</p><p class="line">For all thy strife.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">I watch thy last few embers die.</p><p class="line">And thy bleak ashes—blown around</p><p class="line">By strong Avinds that go whirling by—</p><p class="line">Sink to the ground.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">But rise to sink, and each black flake</p><p class="line">Clings as a lambent stain upon</p><p class="line">The young year's blossoms as they wake</p><p class="line">And then is gone.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Yet wait! some day a greater gale</p><p class="line">Of Hope and Faith shall drive all doubt</p><p class="line">And sharp despair beyond the pale—</p><p class="line">Shall drive without</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">The soul's infinite sorrow and</p><p class="line">Vast shadows of a red, red year,</p><p class="line">And undefiled, superbly grand.</p><p class="line">Holy and dear</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Again the asphodel shall grace</p><p class="line">The world's lone, ravaged wilderness;</p><p class="line">And Youth, in roaming through that place</p><p class="line">Of quietness.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Shall rest beside the peaceful graves</p><p class="line">Where wild bees hover in the grass.</p><p class="line">Which every warm and soft breeze waves;</p><p class="line">And ere he pass</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Shall kneel and lift a hymn of praise</p><p class="line">For those who fought, without a fear</p><p class="line">Or doubting heart to tear, to raise</p><p class="line">God's good New Year!</p></div><p>East Africa, January, 1917</p></body></html> · Great War