<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">The Men Who Man.</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line"><span class="smallcaps">The</span> men who man our batteries,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">The men who serve our guns,</p><p class="line">They need not honeyed flatteries,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">For they are Britain's sons!</p><p class="line">They go, when Duty speeds them,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Wherever bullets fly;</p><p class="line">Wherever England needs them,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">When Duty bids, they die.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">The men who man our strongholds,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Or march to yonder field</p><p class="line">Where Valour against Wrong holds</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">A realm that scorns to yield,</p><p class="line">From Chiltern Hills or Grampians</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">May pour their living tide,</p><p class="line">But all are England's champions</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">And all are England's pride.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">And, lo! how the abhorrence</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Of sceptred crime can join</p><p class="line">The Thames and the St. Lawrence,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">The Liffey and the Boyne.</p><p class="line">For England need but ask aid</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Where'er her branches grow,</p><p class="line">And like a leaping cascade</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">It thunders on the foe.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Our cheery sailors, lapt in</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">The maiden sea's light sleep,</p><p class="line">From commodore and captain</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">To all who man the deep,</p><p class="line">They hear around their bed nought</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">But echoes of their fame,</p><p class="line">And well they man the Dreadnought</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Who dread not aught but shame.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">And whether calmly harboured,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Or when the rocking State</p><p class="line">Lurches to port and starboard,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">They sail the seas of Fate;</p><p class="line">With everlasting laughter</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">They luff to wind and rain,</p><p class="line">Aforetime and hereafter</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">The men who man the main.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">The men who man Great Britain,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">And fight for royal George,</p><p class="line">On battle's anvil smitten</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Leap mightier from the forge:</p><p class="line">Like oaks in Orkney's rough spring</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">They flourish torn and blown,</p><p class="line">For all are Honour's offspring</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">And all are England's own.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">The men who man this nation,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">And sow her fame abroad,</p><p class="line">They ask not acclamation,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">They need not England's laud;</p><p class="line">And when too late it finds them,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">And falls on lifeless ears,</p><p class="line">Where yon red tempest blinds them</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">They need but England's tears.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Yet, while the storm grows vaster</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Around them and above,</p><p class="line">In triumph or disaster</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">They shall not lack our love --</p><p class="line">They who to Glory's fanning</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">This streamer have unfurled,</p><p class="line">The men whose joy is manning,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">The men who man the world!</p></div><p class="byline">WILLIAM WATSON.<br xmlns:exist="http://exist.sourceforge.net/NS/exist" xmlns:html="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"/></p></body></html> · Great War