My poem of the week this week is one my oldest son found a few months ago when I gave them a few books of poetry and required them to find one they would read and explain for all of us the following day. After reading it aloud for us he suggested it would be a useful one to have memorized. So today is the day for each of them to recite it from memory.<\/p>\n
I want my boys to learn dogged determination and perseverance and this poem captures that well.<\/p>\n
Battle Cry\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
More than half beaten, but fearless,
\nFacing the storm and the night;
\nBreathless and reeling but tearless,
\nHere in the lull of the fight,
\nI who bow not but before thee,
\nGod of the fighting Clan,
\nLifting my fists, I implore Thee,
\nGive me the heart of a Man!<\/p>\nWhat though I live with the winners
\nOr perish with those who fall?
\nOnly the cowards are sinners,
\nFighting the fight is all.
\nStrong is my foe–he advances!
\nSnapt is my blade, O Lord!
\nSee the proud banners and lances!
\nOh, spare me this stub of a sword!<\/p>\nGive me no pity, nor spare me;
\nCalm not the wrath of my Foe.
\nSee where he beckons to dare me!
\nBleeding, half beaten–I go.
\nNot for the glory of winning,
\nNot for the fear of the night;
\nShunning the battle is sinning–
\nOh, spare me the heart to fight!<\/p>\nRed is the mist about me;
\nDeep is the wound in my side;
\n“Coward” thou criest to flout me?
\nO terrible Foe, thou hast lied!
\nHere with my battle before me,
\nGod of the fighting Clan,
\nGrant that the woman who bore me
\nSuffered to suckle a Man!<\/p>\n