Greetin'

Kai Tiaki : the journal of the nurses of New Zealand, Volume IX, Issue 3, 1 July 1916, Page 169

Greetin'

There's a sighin' and a sobbin' m the air; There are sad hearts igreetin' everywhere ; Relentless Time is fleein', an' brave, brave lads are deem', An' yet there's lads wha winna dae their share. The birdies c'en are greetin' m the trees; Their sobs soond' woefu' m the breeze; And auld Time still keeps fleein', an' oor brave lads are deem', An' yet we arena' a' upon oor knees. The brave folks m countries far awa' Are necin' frae their names through drivin' snow; And puir bit weans are crying, langside mithers wha are dying; While we are hanie wi J comforts roond us a'. 'Tis but the far-off echoes which we hear; And echoes dinna mak' us blanch wi 1 fear; The boomin' o' the guns is the funeral march o* sons Wha are dccin 1 for the anes they haud maist dear. There's a lang, laigh sabbin' or the seas, That sabs and wails tae us upon the breeze — Baith the submarine and mine tak J their am toll many a time ;

Tis for us that every brave, brave laddie dees. Could death and carnage stalkin' everywhere, Bring the sobs o' desolation on the air; And it may e'en be worse, while a nation 's lasting curse Will follow those who dinna'dae their share. AVhon frien's or kin forget us here, we know Oor hcrts are fu' o J bitter, bitter woe ; That we our Lord forget it matters not, but yet Should He forget us, whither must we go. Sune through the waefu' greetin* in the air May be heard the soond o J nations bowed in pray'r; Let us a' upon oor knees, ask oor Faither wad He please. Tae help us each an' a* tac dae oor share. The cry o' victory sune will reach oor ear; Let the nations' prayers prevail, God righteous winna fail, An' the soonds o' peace shall echo far and near. — J. M. S. KING.