English poem
Nurse Cavell
by Abner Cosens
November, 1915
This world has spots made holy By deeds or lives of love, Has shrines where high and lowly Alike, their hearts may prove; This age, when faith might falter Mid shriek of shot and shell, Has added one more altar, The grave of Nurse Cavell.
She cared for sick and dying, Knew neither friend nor foe, She spent her strength in trying To heal a neighbor's woe. For deeds by love inspired The Kaiser's vengeance fell On form so frail and tired, Heroic Nurse Cavell.
What though the Prussian kultur Now threatened her with death; She met the screaming vulture In simple, quiet faith, "I am an English woman, I love my country well, But must not hate a foeman," Said kindly Nurse Cavell.
She faced the guns with even, Calm, fearless, English eyes, And then, her foes forgiven, Made willing sacrifice; Thus, at the midnight hour, In Prussian prison cell, Crushed by a tyrant's power, Died Christlike Nurse Cavell.
But when no more war legions In battles fierce are hurled, When, to remotest regions, Peace reigns throughout the world; Where'er beyond the waters The British peoples dwell Mothers will tell their daughters The tale of Nurse Cavell.