POETRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17078, 29 January 1916, Page 12

POETRY.

REVEILLE. (By BRET HARTE.) Hark! I hear the tramp of thousands, And of armed men tho hum ; Lo! a nation's hosts have gathered Round the quick alarming drum— Saying, '• Come, Freeman, come! Ere your heritage bo wasted," said the quick alarming drum. "Let me of my heart take counsel; War is not of Life the sum: Who shall stay and reap the harvest When the autumn days shall come?" But tho drum Echoed, "Come! Death shall reap the braver harvest," said tho solemn-sounding drum.

" But when won tho coming battle. What of profit springs therefrom P What if conquest, subjugation, Even greater ills become?" But the drum Answered, '' Come! You must do the sum, to prove it," said the Yankee-answering drum.

" What if, 'mid the cannons' thunder, Whistling shot and bursting bomb, When my brothers fall around me, Should my heart grow cold and numb?" v But the drum Answered, "Come! Better/thero in death united, than in lifo a recreant—come!"

Thus they —hoping, fearing, Somo in faith, and doubting some, Till a trumpet-voice proclaiming, Said, "My chosen people, cornel" Then the drum, Lo! was dumb, For the great heart of the nation, throbbing, answered, " Lord,, we cornel"