George Herbert Clarke, ed. (1873–1953). A Treasury of War Poetry. 1917.
Stephen Phillips
The Kaiser and Belgium
H
What canst thou do but bow to me and kneel?”
But sudden a dry land caught fire like grass,
And answer hurtled but from shell and steel.
Upon him, from Liège a leaden hail.
All Belgium flew up at his throat in flame
Till at her gates amazed his legions quail.
There bowed a mightier war lord to his fall:
Fear! lest that very green grass again grow red
With blood of German now as then with Gaul.
Then thy destruction slake thy madman’s thirst.