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CLOTHED on with thunder and with steel And black against the
dawn The whirling armies clash and reel。 。 。 。 A wind； and they are gone
Like mists withdrawn； Like mists withdrawn！
Like clouds withdrawn； like driven sands； Earth's body vanisheth：
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DREAMS & DUST
One solid thing unconquered stands； The ghost that humbles death。
All else is breath； All else is breath！
Man rose from out the stinging slime； Half brute； and sought a soul；
And up the starrier ways of time； Half god； unto his goal；
He still must climb； He still must climb！
What though worlds stagger； and the suns Seem shaken in their
place； Trust thou the leaping love that runs Creative over space：
Take heart of grace； Take heart of grace！
What though great kingdoms fall on death Before the stabbing
blade； Their brazen might was only breath； Their substance but a
shade Be not dismayed； Be not dismayed！
Man's dream which conquered brute and clod Shall fail not； but
endure； Shall rise； though beaten to the sod； Shall hold its vantage sure…
… As sure as God； As sure as God！
THE SINGER
A LITTLE while； with love and youth； He wandered； singing：
He felt life's pulses hot and strong Beat all his rapid veins along；
He wrought life's rhythms into song： He laughed； he sang the
Dawn！ So close； so close to life he dwelt That at rare times and
rapt he felt The fleshly barriers yield and melt； He trembled；
looking on Creation at her miracles； His soul…sight pierced the
earthly shells And saw the spirit weave its spells； The veil of
clay withdrawn； A little while； with love and youth； He wandered；
singing！
A little while； with age and death； He wanders； dreaming；
No more the thunder and the urge Of earth's full tides that
storm the verge Of heaven with their sweep and surge Shall
lift； shall bear him on； Where is the golden hope that led Him
comrade with the mighty dead？ The love that aureoled his head？
The glory is withdrawn！ How shall one soar with broken wings？
The leagued might of futile things Wars with the heart that dares and
sings； It is not always Dawn！ A little while； with age and death；
He wanders； dreaming。
WORDS ARE NOT GUNS
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DREAMS & DUST
Put by the sword （a dreamer saith）； The years of peace draw nigh！
Already the millennial dawn Makes red the eastern sky！
Be not deceived。 It comes not yet！ The ancient passions keep
Alive beneath their changing masks。 They are not dead。 They sleep。
Surely peace comes。 As sure as Man Rose from primeval slime。
That was not yesterday。 There's still A weary height to climb！
And we can dwell too long with dreams And play too much with
words； Forgetting our inheritance Was bought and held with swords。
But Truth （you say） makes tyrants quail Beats down embattled
Wrong？ If truth be armed！ Be not deceived。 The strife is to the strong。
Words are not guns。 Words are not ships。 And ships and guns
prevail。 Our liberties； that blood has gained； Are guarded； or they fail。
Truth does not triumph without blows； Error not tamely yields。 But
falsehood closes with quick faith； Fierce； on a thousand fields。
And surely； somewhat of that faith Our fathers fought for clings！
Which called this freedom's hemisphere； Despite Earth's leagued kings。
Great creeds grow thews； or else they die。 Thought clothed in deed
is lord。 What are thy gods？ Thy gods brought love？ They also
brought a sword。
Unchallenged； shall we always stand； Secure； apart； aloof？ Be not
deceived。 That hour shall come Which puts us to the proof。
Then； that we hold the trust we have Safeguarded for our sons； Let
us cease dreaming！ Let us have More ships； more troops； more guns！
WITH THE SUBMARINES
ABOVE； the baffled twilight fails； beneath； the blind snakes
creep； Beside us glides the charnel shark； our pilot through the deep；
And； lurking where low headlands shield from cruising scout and
spy； We bide the signal through the gloom that bids us slay or die。
All watchful； mute； the crouching guns that guard the strait sea
lanes Watchful and hawklike； plumed with hate； the desperate
aeroplanes And still as death and swift as fate； above the darkling
coasts； The spying Wireless sows the night with troops of stealthy
ghosts；
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DREAMS & DUST
While hushed through all her huddled streets the tide…walled city
waits The drumming thunders that announce brute battle at her gates。
Southward a hundred windy leagues； through storms that blind
and bar； Our cheated cruisers search the waves； our cap… tains seek
the war； But here the port of peril is； the foeman's dread… noughts
ride Sullen and black against the moon； upon a sullen tide。 And only
we to launch ourselves against their stark advance To guide
uncertain lightnings through these treach… erous seas of chance！
。 。 。 。 。 。
And now a wheeling searchlight paints a signal on the night； And
now the bellowing guns are loud with the wild lust of fight。
。 。 。 。 。 。
And now； her flanks of steel apulse with all the power of hell；
Forth from the darkness leaps in pr