Battle
Battle
Original Text
John Davidson, The Last Ballad and other Poems, 2nd edn. (London: John Lane, 1899), pp. 95-96. PR 4525 D5L3 Robarts Library.
1The war of words is done;
2 The red-lipped cannon speak;
3The battle has begun.
4The web your speeches spun
5 Tears and blood shall streak;
6The war of words is done.
7Smoke enshrouds the sun;
8 Earth staggers at the shriek
9Of battle new begun.
10Poltroons and braggarts run:
11 Woe to the poor, the meek!
12The war of words is done.
13"And hope not now to shun
14 The doom that dogs the weak,"
15Thunders every gun;
16"Victory must be won."
17 When the red-lipped cannon speak,
18The war of words is done,
19The slaughter has begun.
Publication Start Year
1899
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
RPO Edition
RPO 1998.
Form