And may the tale of their love and devotion
Touch the heart lying deep in Britain's broad breast,
And may happiness dawn o'er that isle of the ocean
That gave to the Empire the sons she loved best.
DUTY
I did not hate the man I killed,
That soldier tall with eye of blue.
I might have spared him had I willed,
I did what Duty bade me do.
The Duty that was his and mine,
The thing to which we both were sworn,
To take the human life divine
Of God, unto a woman born.
To drain the body's coursing blood,
To dark the shining eye's bright ray,
To limp the form that proudly stood
And make of it but lifeless clay.
We had been days in battle grim,
And foot by foot had nearer crept.
Amid the carnage and the din
Had eaten little, little slept.
And then we charged; I saw the gleam
Of bayonets in the bright sunshine.
We charged with faces fierce and lean,
I sought his life and he sought mine.
I took his life, I saw him reel;
I pierced his body through and through,
And as I plucked away the steel,
I met his eyes so wide and blue.
Then passed the battle tide along.
Like one gone mad I fought and slew;
I had no thought of right or wrong,
To fight and kill was all I knew.