English poem
Before Action
by William Noel Hodgson (1893–1916)
BEFORE ACTION BY all the glories of the day And the cool evening's benison, By that last sunset touch that lay Upon the hills when day was done, By beauty lavishly outpoured And blessings carelessly received, By all the days that I have lived, Make me a soldier, Lord.
By all of all man's hopes and fears, And all the wonders poets sing, The laughter of unclouded years, And every sad and lovely thing; By the romantic ages stored With high endeavour that was his, By all his mad catastrophes, Make me a man, O Lord.