BELLIGERENT ODES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 115, 8 October 1914, Page 3

BELLIGERENT ODES.

FOR ALL MIS HAVE AND ARE. For all we have and are, For all our children's fate Stand up and meet the war. The Hun is at the gate. Our world has passed away In wanton overthrow; There's nothing left to-day But steel and Are and woe. Though all we know depart, The old commandments stand — In courage keep yonr heart, In strength lift up your hand. Once more we hear the word .. That sickened earth ©f old — No law except the sword Unsheathed and uncontrolled. Once mors it knits mankind, Onee more the nations go To meet and break and bind A crazed and driven foe. Comfort, content, delight, The ages' slow-brought gain They shrivelled in a night— Only ourselves remain. To 1 face the naked days, In silent fortitude, Through perils and dismays, Renewed and renewed. Though all we may depart, The old commandments stand, "In patience keep your heart, In strength lift up your hand." No easy hopes or lies Shall bring us to our goal But iron (sacrifice Of body, will and soul. There's but one task for all, For each, one life to give, Who stands if freedom fall? Who dies if England live ? —Rudyard Kipling. THE MAN FORSWORN.

Who draws to-day the unrighteous sword: Behold him stand, the Man Forsworn, The warrior of the faithless word, Tho pledge disowned, the covenant torn, Who prates of honor, troth, and trust, Ere he profanes them in the dust.

When to yon fabric grey in fame, That Windsor lifts against the sky, In martial cloaJk the KaiecT came, Wc did not dream it cloaked a spy l ; Yot there he sat, a® now we know, A guest, a kinynaa, and a foe.

France was a galfe&t foe and fair, That looked us proudly in the face, With her frank eyee and freeborn air, And valor half-concealed in grace. Noblest of all with whom we strove, At laat she gives ns noble love.

Dut he that took our proffered hand, Thinking to take our birthright too;

He, in thig hospitable land, Bore him as only dastards do. Here, where tho Earth still nurtures

men, His hand shall soil not ours again. We know his peopl« great and strong;

On such as these we cast no slur; Our wonder is that they so long, Suffer ungaflcd his bit and spur. 'Tis with no h«axt of joy that Arise to smite them on the sea. Glory wo count of lesser worth Than wife and bah® end hearth anl homo; Tbwrs ig the mandate spoeding forth Crur steps of thunder on the foam; For them w e fight, for thian we stand, Yea, and for faith 'twixt land and land.

You that have linked your might with ours, To break his pride who breaks tho laws, } You wear to-day, 'mid perjured Powers, The armour of a spotless cause; Your legends march in Truth arrayed, And knightly Honor whets your blade.

From Baitiii <v Biicnyan shorrs, Where Loirs to the Atlantic runs, Where Volga to the Caspian pours, You have not poured in vain your sons. From laughing lands of Rhone and b'ei«o You have not poured pour sons in vain.

Let us a League of Man proclaim Against such knavery 'neath a crown As would be' righbly held to shame

A swineherd and his fellow down. Shall all the false and creeping things' Find a ifcst refuge among Kings?

At least on this unageing throne, That baffles the long siego of Time, 'We have a monarch of our own

To whom a crime is still a crime; And pur e in aim ther# sits afar The patient, eilent, storm-worn Tsar,

To one sole mortal it remained,

One rash insmlter of the Earth, To teach the world wherein he reigned How mmch a Kaiser's word is worth. A Kaiser's word, a Caitiff's tow! . Well hav& we learned their value now.

Over the Wand and kindly Day Unseasonable Night he flings; Sinister darkness blear and grey, A horror of nwligpnant wings. I'ain and red havos he bestows Ou tieni that only ask rtposei

He is not hungrier lor your lands Than ho is thirsty for your gea«. Smite him with all your thundrous hnndii l-'ight him and smite him to his knees. — You Umt on him. and falsehood hurln.l Shall guard the fortress of the world. —William Wabsei