Upton Sinclair, ed. (1878–1968).
The Cry for Justice: An Anthology of the Literature of Social Protest. 1915. | | | I Sing the Battle
(From “The Cry of Youth”) |
By Harry Kemp |
(A young American poet who has wandered over the world as sailor, harvest hand and tramp; born 1883) |
| | | I SING the song of the great clean guns that belch forth death at will. | |
| Ah, but the wailing mothers, the lifeless forms and still! | |
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| I sing the songs of the billowing flags, the bugles that cry before. | |
| Ah, but the skeletons flapping rags, the lips that speak no more! | |
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| I sing the clash of bayonets and sabres that flash and cleave. | 5 |
| And wilt thou sing the maimed ones, too, that go with pinned-up sleeve? | |
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| I sing acclaimèd generals that bring the victory home. | |
| Ah, but the broken bodies that drip like honey-comb! | |
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| I sing of hearts triumphant, long ranks of marching men. | |
| And wilt thou sing the shadowy hosts that never march again? | 10 | | | |
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