war poem

                  Almost as long as there has been life, war has been a part of it. Mankind continues to wage war even though the consequences often breed nothing but misery. However, when a person is called to defend his or her country, or protect other defenseless people, it is his duty to fight. There is no question that there is evil in the world and we must not rest on our laurels and say it is none of our business. We cannot stand by and watch while others are being persecuted. It is the duty of mankind to uphold justice.

W.N.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 where day was done,
By beauty lavisghly outpoured
  And blessings carelessly received,
By all the days that I have lived
  Make me a solider, Lord.
By all of 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 endeavor that was his,
By all his mad catastrophes
  Make me a man, O Lord.
I, that on my familiar hill
  Saw with uncomprehending eyes
A hundred of Thy sunsets spill
  Their fresh and sanguine sacrifice,
Ere the sun swings his noonday sword
  Must say goodbye to all of this;--
By all delights that I shall miss,
  Help me to die, O Lord.

sources: http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1914warpoets.html

notes:

The soldier is contemplating the impending action (fighting) and asking that the Lord will help him do his part with honor. War is often portrayed as glorious and much has been written to glorify war. He has been blessed to not have had to fight before and did not realize that this was a blessing because of the warrior mentality of men, especially soldiers. Most seek to be in the action. Now,
faced with seeing action he is not sure of his abilities to excute his training. This is a common concern for those seeing action for the first time. They ask themselves if they will be able to kill as trained when it comes to the moment. The seriousness of taking another's life is beginning to hit home.

          He is beginning to realize the castarophe of war, but praying to face his fears and fight like a man. Also, as a man (someone who is mature) he wants to have the right perspective. War is not the romantic thing of stories. It costs lives, stills laughter and is in fact a mad castasrophe.

        And now he has come to the realiziation that he may die very soon. He thinks about not only himself, but of those who went into action before him and died. If this is also his fate, then let him die with honor. Many have died even that day and now his turn may come. He is weighing the cost that he has agreed to pay and prays for strength to pay the ultimate price if this is his time.