Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry. 1904.
III. WarCavalry Song
Edmund Clarence Stedman (1833–1908)From “Alice of Monmouth”
O
Our pulses with their purpose tingle;
The foeman’s fires are twinkling there;
He leaps to hear our sabres jingle!
H
Each carbine send its whizzing ball:
Now, cling! clang! forward all,
Into the fight!
Through level lightnings gallop nearer!
One look to Heaven! No thoughts of home:
The guidons that we bear are dearer.
C
Cling! clang! forward all!
Heaven help those whose horses fall:
Cut left and right!
They fall! they spread in broken surges.
Now, comrades, bear our wounded back,
And leave the foeman to his dirges.
W
The bugles sound the swift recall:
Cling! clang! backward all!
Home, and good night!