Poems (Elgee, 1907)/Forward

by Jane Francesca Agnes Elgee

FORWARD!

I.
HAT though Freedom's hosts are parted,
 Yet, beneath one banner fighting,
   Strong in love and hero-hearted,
    All, their Country's wrongs are righting
With the weapon that each deemeth best to strike oppression down

II.
   And one battle-cry resoundeth
    Prom your ranks, success presaging;
   And one heart within you boundeth
    With a martyr's faith, engaging
Each to bind upon his forehead cypress wreath or laurel crown.

III.
   For a power without you urges
    That can brook no more delaying,
   And the heaving myriad surges,
    To and fro in tumult swaying,
Threaten death to all who vainly would oppose them in their might.

IV.
   Thrilling words, that burn like fire,
    Ye have preached to hut and hovel,
   Till they leap up in their ire
    From the death-dust where they grovel,
These men of many sufferings, to die or win their right.

V.
   Pass the word that bands together—
    Word of mystic conjuration—
   And, as fire consumes the heather,
    So the young hearts of the nation
Fierce will blaze up, quick and scathing, 'gainst the stranger and the foe.

VI.
   Hand to hand with them confronted,
    Looking death and danger gravely
   In the face, with brow undaunted;
    Doing nobly, dying bravely,
Stern as men resolved to conquer or to perish in their woe.

VII.
   For the God-breath speaketh in you,
    Dare ye not belie your mission;
   And the beck'ning angels win you
    On with many a radiant vision,
Up the thorny path of glory, where the hero gains his crown.

VIII.
   Fling abroad our Country's banner,
    Foremost march to Freedom leading,
   Let the breath of millions fan her,
    Not alone the wine-press treading,
For a Nation is arising from her long and ghastly swoon.

IX.
   Go with lips that dare not falter,
    Offer up, with exaltations,
   On your country's holy altar,
    Youth, with all its fervid passions,
And your life, if she demands it—Can a patriot fear to die?

X.
   What is life that ye should love it
    More than manlike deeds of duty!
   There's a glory far above it
    Crowns your brow with nobler beauty—
Tis to die, with cheers heroic, lifting Freedom's standard high.

XI.
   Through the darkness and the dunlight,
    Of this sorrow-night of weeping,
   Ye shall trail the radiant sunlight,
    And, like strong men armed, leaping
Forth to wondrous deeds of glory, make Humanity sublime.

XII.
   Rising higher still, and higher,
    Till the Angel who stands nighest
   To the Throne shall tune his lyre
    To your praise before the Highest,
And the Crown of Fame Immortal shall be yours throughout all time.