In Honour of America, 1917
IN ANTITHESIS TO ROSSETTI'S "ON THE REFUSAL
OF AID BETWEEN NATIONS"
Not that the earth is changing, O my God!
Not that her brave democracies take heart
To share, to rule her treasure, to impart
The wine to those who long the wine-press trod;
Not therefore trust we that beneath Thy nod,
Thy silent benediction, even now
In gratitude so many nations bow,
So many poor: not therefore, O my God!
But because living men for dying man
Go to a million deaths, to deal one blow;
And justice speaks one great compassionate tongue;
And nation unto nation calls "One clan
We succourers are, one tribe!" By this we know
Our earth holds confident, steadfast, being young.
Alice Meynell’s other poems:
