BALLADE
No. 2
You dawns, whose loveliness I have not missed,
Making so delicate background for the larches
Melting the hills to softest amethyst;
O beauty never absent from our marches;
Passion of heaven shot golden through the arches
Of woods, or filtered softly from a star,
Nature’s wild love that never cloys or parches;
Because of you I love the name of War.
I have seen dawn and sunset, night and morning,
I have tramped tired and dusty to a tune
Of singing voices tired as I, but scorning
To yield up gaiety to sweltering June.
O comrades marching under blazing noon
Who told me tales in taverns near and far,
And sang and slept with me beneath the moon;
Because of you I love the name of War.
But you most dear companions Life and Death,
Whose friendship I had never valued well
Until that Battle blew with fiery breath
Over the earth his message terrible;
Crying aloud the things Peace could not tell,
Calling up ancient custom to the bar
Of God, to plead its cause with Heaven and Hell ...
Because of you I love the name of War.
L’ENVOI
Prince Jesu, who did speak the amazing word
Loud, trumpet-clear, flame-flashing like a star
Which falls: “Not peace I bring you, but the sword!”
Because of you I love the name of War.