Ballads of Peace in War

<h2> OFF TO THE WAR </h2> <p>(For Jack)<br/></p> <p>In a little ship and down the bay,<br/> Out to the calling sea,<br/> A young brave lad sailed off today,<br/> To the one great war went he:<br/> The one long war all men must know<br/> Greater than land or gold,<br/> Soul is the prince and flesh the foe<br/> Of a kingdom Christ will hold.<br/> <br/> With arms of faith and hope well-wrought<br/> The brave lad went away,<br/> And the voice of Christ fills all his thought,<br/> Under two hands that pray:<br/> The tender love of a mother's hands<br/> That guarded all his years,<br/> Fitted the armor, plate and bands,<br/> And blessed them with her tears.<br/></p> <p>Older than Rhodes and Ascalon<br/> And the farthest forts of sea,<br/> Is the Master voice that calls him on<br/> From the hills in Galilee:<br/> From hills where Christ in gentle guise<br/> Called, as He calls again,<br/> With His heart of love and His love-lit eyes<br/> Unto His warrior men.<br/> <br/> Christ with the brave young lad to-day<br/> Who goes to the sweet command,<br/> Strengthen his heart wherever the way,<br/> Whether he march or stand:<br/> And whether he die in a peaceful cell,<br/> Or alone in the lonely night,<br/> The Cross of Christ shall keep him well,<br/> And be his death's delight.<br/></p> <p><SPAN name="link2H_4_0006" id="link2H_4_0006"></SPAN></p> <br/> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />