<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">The Vale of Shadows</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line"><span class="smallcaps">There</span> is a vale in the Flemish land,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">A vale once fair to see,</p><p class="line">Where under the sweep of the sky's wide arch,</p><p class="line">Though winter freeze or summer parch,</p><p class="line">The stately poplars march and march,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Remembering Lombardy.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Here are men of the Saxon eyes,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Men of the Saxon heart,</p><p class="line">Men of the fens and men of the Peak,</p><p class="line">Men of the Kentish meadows sleek,</p><p class="line">Men of the Cornwall cove and creek,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Men of the Dove and Dart.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Here are men of the kilted clans</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">From the heathery slopes that lie</p><p class="line">Where the mists hang gray and the mists hang white,</p><p class="line">And the deep lochs brood 'neath the craggy height,</p><p class="line">And the curlews scream in the moonless night</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Over the hills of the Skye.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Here are men of the Celtic breed,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Lads of the smile and tear,</p><p class="line">From where the loops of the Shannon flow,</p><p class="line">And the crosses gleam in the even-glow,</p><p class="line">And the halls of Tara now are low,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">And Donegal cliffs are sheer.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">And never a word does one man speak,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Each in his narrow bed,</p><p class="line">For this is the Vale of Long Release,</p><p class="line">This is the Vale of the Lasting Peace,</p><p class="line">Where wars, and the rumors of wars, shall cease,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">The valley of the dead.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">No more are they than the scattered scud,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">No more than broken reeds,</p><p class="line">No more than shards or shattered glass,</p><p class="line">Than dust blown down the winds that pass,</p><p class="line">Than trampled wefts of pampas-grass</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">When the wild herd stampedes.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">In the dusk of death they laid them down</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">With naught of murmuring,</p><p class="line">And laughter rings through the House of Mirth</p><p class="line">To hear the vaunt of the high of birth,</p><p class="line">For what are all the kings of earth</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Before the one great King!</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">And what shall these proud war-lords say</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">At foot of His mighty throne?</p><p class="line">For there shall dawn a reckoning day,</p><p class="line">Or soon or late, come as it may,</p><p class="line">When those who gave the sign to slay</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Shall meet His face alone.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">What, think ye, will their penance be</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Who have wrought this monstrous crime?</p><p class="line">What shall whiten their blood-red hands</p><p class="line">Of the stains of riven and ravished lands?</p><p class="line">How shall they answer God's stern commands</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">At the last assize of Time?</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">For though we worship no vengeance-god</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Of madness and of ire,</p><p class="line">No Presence grim, with a heart of stone,</p><p class="line">Shall they not somehow yet atone?</p><p class="line">Shall they not reap as they have sown</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Of fury and of fire?</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">There is a vale in the Flemish land</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Where the lengthening shadows spread</p><p class="line">When day, with crimson sandals shod,</p><p class="line">Goes home athwart the mounds of sod</p><p class="line">That cry in silence up to God</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">From the valley of the dead!</p></div><p class="byline">-- Clinton Scollard.</p></body></html> · Great War