EPILOGUE, 1914 (continued) But, without halt or haste, its course is sure, From this dread sowing, grant us harvest, Lord, And striving ever upward towards The Goal. So, once again, through Death shall come New Life, And out of Darkness, Light. "POLICEMAN X," which appeared first in Bees in Amber, was written in 1898. The Epilogue was written in 1914. "Policeman X" is the Kaiser. "Policeman"—because if he had so chosen he could have assisted in policing Europe and preserving the peace of the world. "X"-because he was then the unknown quantity. Now we know him only too well. THE MEETING-PLACE I saw my fellows (A Warning) In Poverty Street, Bitter and black with life's defeat, "Surely death were sweet To the people who live in Poverty Street." I saw my fellows In Market Place, Avid and anxious, and hard of face, Sweating their souls in the Godless race. And I said to myself, "How shall these find grace Who tread Him to death in the Market Place?" I saw my fellows In Vanity Fair, Revelling, rollicking, debonair, THE MEETING-PLACE (continued) Life all a Gaudy-Show, never a care. "Is there place for these In my Lord's well-appointed policies?" I saw my fellows In Old Church Row, Hot in discussion of things High and Low, Cold to the seething volcano below. And I said to myself, "The leaven is dead. The salt has no savour. The Spirit is fled." I saw my fellows As men and men, The Men of Pain, and the Men of Gain, "What if those should dare To claim from these others their rightful share?" I saw them all Where the Cross-Roads meet; Vanity Fair, and Poverty Street, THE MEETING-PLACE (continued) And the Mart, and the Church,-when the Red Drums beat, And summoned them all to The Great Court Leet. And I cried unto God,— "Now grant us Thy grace!" For that was a terrible Meeting-Place. VICTORY DAY An Anticipation As sure as God's in His Heaven, As sure as He stands for Right, As sure as the hun this wrong hath done, Then ! Then, the visioned eye shall see The great and noble company, That gathers there from land and sea, From over-land and over-sea, From under-land and under-sea, To celebrate right royally The Day of Victory. Not alone on that great day, Will the war-worn victors come, To meet our great glad "Welcome Home!" |