Ballads of Battle/The Home-Coming

by Joseph Lee

BROKEN TREES AT ERICHT REDOUBT

THE HOME-COMING

When this blast is over-blown,
And the beacon fires shall burn,
And in the street
Is the sound of feet—
They also shall return.

When the bells shall rock and ring,
When the flags shall flutter free,
And the choirs shall sing,
"God save our King "—
They shall be there to see.

When the brazen bands shall play,
And the silver trumpets blow,
And the soldiers come
To the tuck of drum—
They shall be there also.

When that which was lost is found;
When each shall have claimed his kin,
Fear not they shall miss
Mother's clasp, maiden's kiss—
For no strange soil might hold them in.

When Te Deums seek the skies,
When the Organ shakes the Dome,
A dead man shall stand
At each live man's hand—
For they also have come home.