<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">"For Those at Sea"</h1><p class="inline-note" xmlns:html="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">(H.M.S. "Aboukir," "Cressy," "Hogue," September 22, 1914.)</p><div class="stanza"><p class="line"><span class="smallcaps">Now</span> all our English woodland sighs "October."</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">The mild sun going down behind the trees</p><p class="line">Doth bless a countryside as sweet and sober</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">As ever put on brown and red to please;</p><p class="line">The brooks run blood, but 'tis such blood as Heav'n,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Piercèd with light, lets fall on field and village;</p><p class="line">England's dear breasts are still unbruised, unriv'n</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">The autumn peace on pastureland and tillage.</p><p class="line">Dear mother of us all, hast thou not heard?</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Thou knowest how thy sons, our brothers, died</p><p class="line">Of late, and hast thou not a sorrowful word?</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">O no! Thou dost contain thyself in pride.</p><p class="line">Pity suits not for those, who guarding thee</p><p class="line">Guard more than their own lives, for those at sea.</p></div><p class="byline">-- Geoffrey Faber.</p></body></html> · Great War