Whom The Gods Love Poem by Cicely Fox Smith

Oh, sweet is life in living,
And earth is fair and sweet,
When limbs are strong and supple,
And youth's swift pulses beat.
Oh, fair the years unfolding, -
The gallant deeds in store
For hearts keen-set on glory,
When all the world before.


High hopes of fame and honour
Along the dawning years;
Young hearts that leap to action;
Brave brows unbent by fears;
Strong souls that march exulting
Full face to meet the foe, -
To work the fate allotted,
As time and tide may show.


Oh, sweet the death of heroes
Upon some ringing field,
Who go to war determined
To none but death to yield.
No time have they for shriving,
No time to shrink and pray:
Before the God of Battles
They go the soldier's way.


O strong and true and gallant!
O life serenely flung
Upon thy country's altars
So nobly and so young!
O chosen heir of honour,
Scarce past thy boyhood's span,
At one brave step fulfilling
The proudest hopes of man.


O for the grave and lonely,
Beneath a stranger sky,
Where lies a lad who, living,
Learnt well the way to die.
O fair the tale of glory
He leaves to gild his name!
O light along the ages
To lead young feet to fame!