<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="" class="head">The Gift</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line">"OH, I have known the dreams of youth</p><p class="line">then what</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">The dead, long, useless years gave promise of;</p><p class="line">Remnants I'll humbly gift thee—all I've got,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Which thy sweet thanks shall be the solace of."</p><p class="line">Thus spake a restless mind all out of tune</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">With souls and thoughts the world could offer</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">him.</p><p class="line">Thou know'st he thanked Thee, God, for War's</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">grand boon—</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">The end, the glory, England proffered him.</p><p class="line">The sorrow of his going matters not;</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Only the fierce high glow that in his heart</p><p class="line">Lit up those remnants that a rifle shot</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Filched from an England who was grieved to part.</p><p class="line">Alway, the nobleness that England gives</p><p class="line">Rescinds her royal gift—so England lives!</p></div><p>France.</p></body></html> · Great War