SELECTED VERSE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXIII, Issue XVIII, 3 August 1912, Page 10

SELECTED VERSE.

THE SONG OF THE CAMP

By Bayard Taylor. "Give us a song!" the soldiers cried, The outer trenches guarding, When the heated guns of the camps allied Grew weary of bombarding. The dark Redan, in silent scoff, Lay grim and threatening under; And the tawny mound of the Malakoff No longer belched its thunder. There Avas a pause. A guardsman said: "We storm the forts to-morrow; Sing while we may, another day Will bring Enough of sorrow." They lay along the battery's side, Below the smoking cannon; Brave hearts from Severn and from Clyde, And from the banks of Shannon. They sang of love and not of fame; Forgot was Britain's glory; Each heart recalled a different name, But all sang "Annie Laurie." Voice after voice caught up the song, Until its tender passion Rose like an anthem, rich and strong— I Their battle-eve confession. Dear girl, her name he dared not speak, But as the' song grew louder, Something upon the soldier's cheek Washed off the stains of powder. Beyond the darkening ocean burned The bloody sunset's embers, While the Crimean valleys learned How English love remembers. And once again a fire of hell Rained on the Russian quarters. With scream of shot, and burst of shell. And bellowing of the mortars. And Vish Nora's eyes are dim For a singer, dumb and gory; And English Mary mourns for'him Who sang of "Annie Laurie." Sleep, soldiers! Still in honored rest Your truth and valor wearing; The bravest are the tenderest —' The loving arc the daring.