<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">The Mother</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line"><span class="smallcaps">Out</span> of the bitter, the sweet;</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Out of the pain, the joy;</p><p class="line">Out of the mists, the morning star;</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Out of my travail, my boy.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Out of old flesh, new flesh;</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Out of old bone, new bone;</p><p class="line">Out of my side, my treasure and pride;</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">My breast his earliest throne.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Stiff in the trenches, and stark;</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Dead 'ere the battle was won;</p><p class="line">For that which is Right, for Love and Light,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Freely I gave my son.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">After the bitter, the sweet;</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">After the pain, the joy --</p><p class="line">I will not falter, nor flinch, nor faint;</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Proudly I give my boy.</p></div><p class="byline">-- "Seranus."</p></body></html> · Great War