<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">One Night.</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line">I <span class="smallcaps">walked</span> into a moon of gold last night</p><p class="line">Across grey sands she seemed to shine so bright.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Wide, wide the sands until I met the sea,</p><p class="line">Cradle of moons, yet searchlights followed me.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">I asked the moon if creeping round the Zones</p><p class="line">She had seen good, or only poor things' bones.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">"Pale faces I have seen, unconscious men</p><p class="line">Bereft of struggling horror now and then.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">"And sinking ships I see, and floating mines,</p><p class="line">And cries I hear, 'O God,' and choking whines.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">"But later when the stars shine on the wave</p><p class="line">And give more light, I know the dead die brave.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">"Passing so quickly from the things that count,</p><p class="line">Count to all mortal thoughts, to find the Fount,</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">"Where angels pour elixir into bowls,</p><p class="line">Drink, not for broken hearts, but thirsty souls."</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">"And what on shore?" I asked, "the great Divide</p><p class="line">Where rivers run, and trenches side by side?"</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">"There," the moon said, "the snow was on the ground</p><p class="line">And the frost pinched me as I beamed around.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">"Red pools of gore, and ghastly shadows lay</p><p class="line">In deep dug corners, so I sank away.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">"Let misty cloudlets sweep across my face</p><p class="line">To hide the earth, and give me heart of grace.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">"Sudden the air seemed filled with eager breath</p><p class="line">Of great Adventurers, released from death,</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">"And shaking blood from out their eyes and hair</p><p class="line">Shouting for further knowledge here and there.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">"I lighted these across the treacherous Path</p><p class="line">To reach the garden of Life's aftermath.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">"And as they sped in troops the great guns boomed,</p><p class="line">With flashes lightning swift, and dark hordes loomed,</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">"And phantom shapes of patient warrior bands --</p><p class="line">Then more snow fell and shrouded all the lands."</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Now pondering from the moon I turned again,</p><p class="line">Over the sands, back to our House of Pain.</p></div><p class="byline">MILLICENT SUTHERLAND. </p></body></html> · Great War