Last Poems — Poems I-VI

I. THE WEST

Beyond the moor and the mountain crest --Comrade, look not on the west-- The sun is down and drinks away From air and land the lees of day.

The long cloud and the single pine Sentinel the ending line, And out beyond it, clear and wan, Reach the gulfs of evening on.

The son of woman turns his brow West from forty countries now, And, as the edge of heaven he eyes, Thinks eternal thoughts, and sighs.

Oh wide's the world, to rest or roam, With change abroad and cheer at home, Fights and furloughs, talk and tale, Company and beef and ale.

But if I front the evening sky Silent on the west look I, And my comrade, stride for stride, Paces silent at my side, Comrade, look not on the west: 'Twill have the heart out of your breast;

'Twill take your thoughts and sink them far, Leagues beyond the sunset bar.

Oh lad, I fear that yon's the sea Where they fished for you and me, And there, from whence we both were ta'en, You and I shall drown again.

Send not on your soul before To dive from that beguiling shore, And let not yet the swimmer leave His clothes upon the sands of eve.

Too fast to yonder strand forlorn We journey, to the sunken bourn, To flush the fading tinges eyed By other lads at eventide.

Wide is the world, to rest or roam, And early 'tis for turning home: Plant your heel on earth and stand, And let's forget our native land.

When you and I are split on air Long we shall be strangers there;

Friends of flesh and bone are best;

Comrade, look not on the west.

II.

As I gird on for fighting My sword upon my thigh, I think on old ill fortunes Of better men than I. Think I, the round world over, What golden lads are low With hurts not mine to mourn for And shames I shall not know.

What evil luck soever For me remains in store, 'Tis sure much finer fellows Have fared much worse before.

So here are things to think on That ought to make me brave, As I strap on for fighting My sword that will not save.

III.

Her strong enchantments failing, Her towers of fear in wreck, Her limbecks dried of poisons And the knife at her neck, The Queen of air and darkness Begins to shrill and cry, 'O young man, O my slayer, To-morrow you shall die.'

O Queen of air and darkness, I think 'tis truth you say, And I shall die to-morrow;

But you will die to-day.

IV. ILLIC JACET

Oh hard is the bed they have made him, And common the blanket and cheap;

But there he will lie as they laid him: Where else could you trust him to sleep?

To sleep when the bugle is crying And cravens have heard and are brave, When mothers and sweethearts are sighing And lads are in love with the grave.

Oh dark is the chamber and lonely, And lights and companions depart;

But lief will he lose them and only Behold the desire of his heart.

And low is the roof, but it covers A sleeper content to repose;

And far from his friends and his lovers He lies with the sweetheart he chose.

V. GRENADIER

The Queen she sent to look for me, The sergeant he did say, 'Young man, a soldier will you be For thirteen pence a day?'

For thirteen pence a day did I Take off the things I wore, And I have marched to where I lie, And I shall march no more.

My mouth is dry, my shirt is wet, My blood runs all away, So now I shall not die in debt For thirteen pence a day.

To-morrow after new young men The sergeant he must see, For things will all be over then Between the Queen and me.

And I shall have to bate my price, For in the grave, they say, Is neither knowledge nor device Nor thirteen pence a day.

VI. LANCER

I 'listed at home for a lancer, Oh who would not sleep with the brave?

I 'listed at home for a lancer To ride on a horse to my grave.

And over the seas we were bidden A country to take and to keep;

And far with the brave I have ridden, And now with the brave I shall sleep.

For round me the men will be lying That learned me the way to behave.

And showed me my business of dying: Oh who would not sleep with the brave?

They ask and there is not an answer;

Says I, I will 'list for a lancer, Oh who would not sleep with the brave?

And I with the brave shall be sleeping At ease on my mattress of loam, When back from their taking and keeping The squadron is riding home.

The wind with the plumes will be playing, The girls will stand watching them wave, And eyeing my comrades and saying Oh who would not sleep with the brave?

They ask and there is not an answer;

Says you, I will 'list for a lancer, Oh who would not sleep with the brave?

VII.