Reely's Poetry Blog

By MARJORIE PICKTHALL (1883-1922)

 GREAT names of thy great captains gone before 
  Beat with our blood, who have that blood of thee: 
  Raleigh and Grenville, Wolfe, and all the free 
Fine souls who dared to front a world in war. 
Such only may outreach the envious years 
  Where feebler crowns and fainter stars remove, 
  Nurtured in one remembrance and one love 
Too high for passion and too stern for tears. 
 
O little isle our fathers held for home, 
  Not, not alone thy standards and thy hosts
    Lead where thy sons shall follow, Mother Land: 
Quick as the north wind, ardent as the foam, 
  Behold, behold the invulnerable ghosts 
    Of all past greatnesses about thee stand.