MARCHING.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVII, Issue 9042, 12 July 1917, Page 2

MARCHING.

(By CHAS. W. PURNELL.) I see the soldiers marching, marching, mai'ching down the street; I hear the band a-playing, and the drum's exulting beat, For the men with, hearts a-burning are going far away To a land where gleams the battle and the cannon's grim array. Each soldier has his company, each company its place; They march ■in ordered phalanx, in a strong and measured pace. Fiery visions of tho battle lend a vigour to .their feet As rank by rank they move a-down the long and crowded street. They have heard their country calling, with an earnest voice and strong; They have felt the breath of battle, they have heard its thrilling song; Their souls grow,hot and zealous, their .breasts-are ■.filled with pride, All the man that dwells within them rising like a flowing "tide. '

Martial , airs .the. band's a-playing— •■:. stirring airs that make the blood Flow in quick, and quicker courses till -f.;: it rushes' like a flbod. The diMiitn; awiakes-tho echoes .witlv its loud resonant rolls,-:. ■ But thest? gallant men/.lie marching to the druni within fcheir souls.

Now. the frighted world is rocking with the tumult and the roar, At the thunders and the lightnings, at the terrors of the war; From tho cities and the meadows, from the mountain and the glen, Come forth the foaming millions, in the wrath of armed men.

The land is. rent and riven; its face is gaunt with woe. The air is filled with bursting shells; the mine springs from below. Armies meet, and men are falling like . the berries of the corn ": Blown from the ripening harvest-, by a . cruel tempest's scorn. '■' •' ' *

With the warrior's lofty bearing, on the soldiers marching go, : Inly thirsting tor- the presence, for the meeting of the foe; 'Twas thus, that our forefathers marched in famous days of yore, 'Twas thus that true-born' Englishmen went marching to the war.

I see the soldiers marching, marching, marching down the street; I hear the road resounding with the noise of tramping feet; I hear the people shouting, with enthusiastic cry, As the soldiers, with their rifles, troop by troop, go passing by. The soldiers now are gone from sight: the drum is faintly heard; Twould seem an empty pageant by _ which our: hearts were . stirred. ' But-one day shall a welcome"' voice „ 7 come pealing o'er tlie sea— lour men have won a famous name, a splendid victory."

, -"Weekly Press." Ashburtbn, June, 1917.