| |
| NOW heap the branchy barriers up. | |
| No more for us shall burn | |
| The pine-logs on the happy hearth, | |
| For we shall not return. | |
| |
| We ’ve come to our last camping-ground. | 5 |
| Set axe to fir and tamarack. | |
| The foe is here, the end is near, | |
| And we shall not turn back. | |
| |
| In vain for us the town shall wait, | |
| The home-dear faces yearn, | 10 |
| The watchers on the steeple watch,— | |
| For we shall not return. | |
| |
| For them we ’re come to these hard straits, | |
| To save from flame and wrack | |
| The little city built far off; | 15 |
| And we shall not turn back. | |
| |
| Now beat the yelling butchers down. | |
| Let musket blaze, and axe-edge burn. | |
| Set hand to hand, lay brand to brand, | |
| But we shall not return. | 20 |
| |
| For every man of us that falls | |
| Their hordes a score shall lack. | |
| Close in about the Lily Flag! | |
| No man of us goes back. | |
| |
| For us no morrow’s dawn shall break. | 25 |
| Our sons and wives shall learn | |
| Some day from lips of flying scout | |
| Why we might not return. | |
| |
| A dream of children’s laughter comes | |
| Across the battle’s slack, | 30 |
| A vision of familiar streets,— | |
| But we shall not go back. | |
| |
| Up roars the painted storm once more. | |
| Long rest we soon shall earn. | |
| Henceforth the city safe may sleep, | 35 |
| But we shall not return. | |
| |
| And when our last has fallen in blood | |
| Between these waters black, | |
| Their tribe shall no more lust for war,— | |
| For we shall not turn back. | 40 |
| |
| In vain for us the town shall wait, | |
| The home-dear faces yearn, | |
| The watchers in the steeple watch, | |
| For we shall not return. | |
| |
