MEN who die for England
Never die in vain.
Dying conquerors, dying masters,
Dying firm ‘mid fierce disasters.
England’s every son
Dying duty done
Gives the life she lent him back again.
Men who die for England
Never die in vain.
Rushing seas they rode victorious,
Conquering seas have made them glorious,
Where in marshalled rank
Down to death they sank.
Met in order stern the roaring main
Proud for pride of England
Died, and not in vain.
Sons of Vikings, old the story,
Desperate odds and death-fight gory.
Over all your graves,
Late or soon, there waves
Proud the flag you held us high from stain,
Floats the flag of England
Fought for-not in vain.
Beacon fires are ye whose ashes
Fade, yet forth their splendour flashes.
Answers height on height,
Bright and yet more bright,
Answers all your England, hill and plain,
Men who die for England
Do not die in vain.
Prince and labourer, clerk and yeoman!
One we rise to front the foeman.
Who can dare forget
Now to pay his debt,
Give what England gave to her again?
Men who died for England
Have not died in vain.
(Margaret Louisa Woods)
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Based on Topics: Man Poems, Life Poems, Death & Dying Poems, Sons Poems, England Poems, Debts PoemsBased on Keywords: vikings, death-fight