THE BATTLE OF THE FREE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2322, 2 December 1914, Page 7

THE BATTLE OF THE FREE

A POEM BY SIR CHARLES BOWEN. It is not generally known that the Hon. Sir Charles Bowen, Speaker of the Legislative Council in New Zealand, added verse-writing to his talents. The following linos, which form the concluding part of a glowing and virile poem entitled "The Battle of the' Free," written just before the Crimean War, are singularly, apropos of recent events, and of New Zealand's response to the Empire's call to arms:—

To arms! To arms! )■' When the battle rages fierce. And the, deadly volleys pierce ■ The small outnumbered army of the Island of tho Free;— When her dauntless hearts have chosen either death or Fiotory;— Where her warriors are fighting, as the bravest only dare, For the birthplaces of freedom and the liberties of man;— Then New Zealand shall be there, Jn the van. • Young New Zealand shall bo there,— Her rifles : from the mountain and her horsemen from the plain When the foaman's ranks are reeling o'er • the 6lain. Few in number—stout of heart— ' They will come to take their part In the dangers and He glories of .the brave, To share in,their triumph or their Wcod.stained grave. England, exult! For thy numberless sons are comine o'er the sea, ■ '. To rally round the banner of the Island of the Free. Oh, England! bear thee proudly ' ■. In the direst need of war; For thy 6ons,—the sons of Freedom, Are sailing from" afar. ; Thoy are coming—they are coming— To surround the banner of tho Island of tho Sea, And to fight in' the Battlo of the Free. '. '