<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">Australians to the Front!</h1><h1 align="center" class="head">(Captain Cook hears the Drums)</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line"><span class="smallcaps">From</span> the Scheldt to the Niemen,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Hark, the music of the drums!</p><p class="line">Not unthrilled the souls of freemen</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">When that instant message comes.</p><p class="line">Rolling east the wild fantasia</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Stirs the Orient blood to flame;</p><p class="line">And the drums call Austral-asia</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">And she answers to her name.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Far away from hosts in battle,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Yet in time with marching feet</p><p class="line">Here and now the war-drums rattle</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">In the sunbright city street.</p><p class="line">Horse and foot in martial manner,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Swift commands, and glances high,</p><p class="line">Naked steel and silken banner;</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Thus the ranks go proudly by.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">But within the gardens spacious,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Not a stone's throw from the crowd</p><p class="line">One who fronts the landscape gracious</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Listens to the war-drums loud.</p><p class="line">Beats the eager drummer harder,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">And methinks the bronze can hear,</p><p class="line">In those eyes a flash of ardor!</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">On that cheek a noble tear!</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Dauntless Captain, did'st thou ever,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">With thy sailor-eyes of gray</p><p class="line">Searching out from thy endeavor</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">That sequestered flower-starred bay,</p><p class="line">Dream that some day those who love thee</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Here would stake their all of worth,</p><p class="line">For the flag that waved above thee</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">And the land that gave thee birth?</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">And the dauntless Captain listens:</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Ah, if only he could speak!</p><p class="line">But a vagrant raindrop glistens</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">On that scorched and blistered cheek,</p><p class="line">And the faith that does not falter</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Still may hear his whisper low:</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:%">"Son, this new land doth not alter</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%"><em>Britain's breed of long ago."</em></p></div><p class="byline">-- John Sandes.</p></body></html> · Great War