I Am Going To The Wars – O! Poem by Emmanuel George Cefai

I am going to the wars now – O!
Where there is blood and toil
And passing over unknown seas
And lands –
And rain and mist and glaring of the sun
I’m going to the wars now – O!

I’m going to the wars now – O!
Where night and day and light and dark
Together mix – become irrelevant:
Save for the on-ward marching
And hoarse chanting of the march songs:
I’m going to the wars now – O!

I’m going to the wars now – O!
Where the red earth is redder made
Where drops of red, red blood
The golden corn-sheaves dye
Where mothers lose their sons
Fathers their wives and children
Children their fathers lose:
I’m going to the wars now – O!