Charles Granville

From “Poems of the Hour”

WEEP not; they would not have us weep for them;

Weep not; for they are as the stars that shine;

Their glory spilt upon the darkened skies

Can not be dimmed by frailty, yours or mine.

They cannot die; shall not the best survive?

The flower of man too has its seed in death;

And as the Phœnix soars from ashen dust

Man’s spirit from the dead draws living breath.

They live with us as they shall live with men

Throughout the ages in the times to be,

Patriots and partners in the great emprise

To make and keep their cherished England free;

(Only when foul is fair and fair is foul,

And honor fails, shall men blot out their light;

Only when men shall call their courage crime

Shall England know oblivion and the night.)

They shall not die so men be worthy them

And the high motive shining through their deed;

So men be worthy they shall never die,

But shall be spirit-warriors at our need.