THE SLEEPLESS SWORD.

Feilding Star, Volume VI, Issue 1670, 14 December 1911, Page 1

THE SLEEPLESS SWORD.

i """}*?,*' ] A my 6wor(l slcc J" in unhand."—Win. Blake.

The day is done: the smoke of bat-tic clears; The hosts have parted and the din abates. Opposing camps would hush awhile _ then* cheers; The drooping, dripping sword no toe awaits.

AVhat! Is it o'er—this fight of yesterday, And yesterdays of many a year lon-f past? " " ° Can peace at length exert her gentlo sway, And o'er such hostile hosts her influence cast?

No peace, nor even truce, this sudden calm: A throbbing thrill abides ' thou'di cries be stilled; Unheard, there stirs our hearts a soldier psalm— A song with -hope and faith of victory filled.

Our host emerges irom the clash of strife But to plunge fearless inlo stril'o again. This conflict closes only with our life; Unless, ero death, we do our end attain.

So fight we still, that in our island home, Girt with the severing and securing sea, The demon Drink no more at largo may roam • That men from their worse selves may be set free.

So fight we still, that little children's sobs And weary women's tears shall fewer be; That cheeked for us shall bo 'the waste that rolls So many lands or worthy destiny.

So fight we still. Not brother men our foes: Ours is a social and fraternal creed. .No human enemy we know—save those Who know no pity in their grasping greed.

Leagued against these, and that which they purvey— The mocker of man's mind, tho fruitful cause Of ills of body and of souls' decay— We stand to wage a war with scarce a pause.

On, on! light on ! No quailing nor ro- __ treat! No tented ea«o can call u« from the tray. Trample tho useless scabbard 'ne-i'li the feet— Let the blade leap and cleavo its shining way.

So to the struggle still, with strength restored. Our host shall forward move with trumpet' blast, Till victory's hour shall find our slooploss sword Sheathed in the body of a brutal past.

a« ,i x- ,- A " B - CHAPPELL Alter the No-license .Poll, Feilding, Dec-ember 8, 1911.