| George Herbert Clarke, ed. (1873–1953). A Treasury of War Poetry. 1917. |
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| 54. In War-Time |
| | | An American Homeward-Bound |
| | | By Florence Earle Coates |
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| FURTHER and further we leave the scene | |
| Of war—and of England’s care; | |
| I try to keep my mind serene— | |
| But my heart stays there; | |
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| For a distant song of pain and wrong | 5 |
| My spirit doth deep confuse, | |
| And I sit all day on the deck, and long— | |
| And long for news! | |
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| I seem to see them in battle-line— | |
| Heroes with hearts of gold, | 10 |
| But of their victory a sign | |
| The Fates withhold; | |
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| And the hours too tardy-footed pass, | |
| The voiceless hush grows dense | |
| ’Mid the imaginings, alas! | 15 |
| That feed suspense. | |
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| Oh, might I lie on the wind, or fly | |
| In the wilful sea-bird’s track, | |
| Would I hurry on, with a homesick cry— | |
| Or hasten back? | 20 |
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