PS 3545 HARVEY M. WATTS THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES "OVER THERE" "OVER THERE" POEMS OF APPRECIATION, CON SOLATION AND INDIGNATION BY HARVEY M. WATTS, A.M., Litt.D. Author of "The Wife of Potiphar, with Other Poems," "The Faith of Princes,!.' "Lux Erat," "Pennsylvania," Etc. PHILADELPHIA THE JOHN C. WINSTON COMPANY 1917 Reprinted from the public prints, Vigilantes files, etc., in which they appeared as the occasions giving nse to them called for. Copyright, 1917, by HARVEY M. WATTS PS CONTENTS CONTENTS PAGE "Over There!" 7 GOING AWAY As to Those Who Go! 11 Packing Up 13 At the Station J4 Reveille 15 Taps 16 Somewhere in France 17 To the Aviators 18 FESTIVAL DAYS Memorial Day, 1917 23 At Independence Hall 24 The Celebration, July Fourth, 1917 25 IN THE KAISER'S HONOR In the Kaiser's Honor! 29 The Were-Wolf 30 The Exemplar 31 The Bayonet Practice at Plattsburg 32 His VICTIMS Nurse Cavell Martyr! 35 The Lusitanians 36 The Red Cross! 37 15] 904144 CONTENTS PAGE In Belgium! 38 To France 40 To Venice! 41 To Germany 42 To THOSE AT REST The Roll of Honor! 45 In Memoriam 46 " Ordinary Seamen " 47 "Going West" 48 [6] OVER THERE! "OVER THERE!" SOME day we'll join them over there and know The haunting secret that lights up their face, Giving their humblest act a touch of grace As if all saw the vision in the glow Of Heaven ajar, as, lo, they cry "We go Comrades in arms of those who set the pace, Ready to fall if they but win the race Ere tyranny shall strike the fateful blow." Some day! Ah, yes, the long way over there We too shall tread since they have gladly gone As pioneers and paid the final toll! So fear we not, as if in dull despair, To face with them the bright unending dawn, Lest saving life we lose all else, the soul ! [7] GOING AWAY AS TO THOSE WHO GO! AS TO THOSE WHO GO! THEY say that those who go away Are nevermore the same; Something is added that uplifts Above your praise or blame. Gayly they say farewells and go, Gayly perform their tasks; That duty square the old account With honor is all they ask. The very insolence of Youth Is in their every gait; Joyous they ask for service, give Full hostages to Fate. In the dark scheme of muddled things They cast their shining spear, Themselves the very sacrifice Yet free from coward fear. And, as in all the ages past, They crowd in quickened years The essence of heroic deeds Nor ask your meed of tears. [il AS TO THOSE WHO GO! But those who wait the long return Know that for e'er and all The "first fine rapture's" gone from life Gone, gone, beyond recall. They say that those who go away Are nevermore the same; Haloed in life, or death, they stand Above all praise or blame. [12] PACKING UP PACKING UP THESE are his things, his clothes, his kit, his shoes, In haste selected at the sudden call When he himself gave up his chance, his all, That greater treasure he might never lose; Honor and faith in country What! refuse To quit the discipline of storied hall? To yield up cloying pleasures sure to pall? No, no; this sacrifice he could but choose! O patriot lad, so keen to play your part In these unstained habiliments of war, We, who must wait, salute you through our tears, Knowing such free devotion, head and heart, To world in travail can alone restore Hope for the present and the future years! [13] AT THE STATION AT THE STATION WE watch him go till he is out of sight, Yet catch the last gay wave of friendly hand Above the crowd; and, while the blare of band Is in our ears, we turn; the garish light, The station noise, are lost just as one might Of sudden find things blank : And so we stand Irresolute, as he, at shrill command Of bugle, goes into the deepening night! Yet we who long have waited, labored, know The bright escutcheon of his soul is clear, Ready in body, duty but the guide! So wherefore shrink as if to ward the blow? Service is asked of all, out on chill fear, Nor hamper him exalted in his pride! 14 REVEILLE REVEILLE '""] F^HE reveil!6 across the sun-touched field Gives "taps" to song of cheerful birdling choir Vocal since dawn; as smoke of kindled fire Sifts lazily, to early duties steeled The camp wakes up, its bustling streets revealed Seething with eager youth, freed from desire Of old-time ease, nor fearing lest they tire Of daily grind they full obedience yield. And, lo, the steady tread of many feet, Striking the ground in ringing unison, The stalwart poise in serried discipline, Tell of a land thrilled to remotest mete, Facing the mighty task still to be done; The nation to a man in step and line! [15] TAPS TAPS ^ ^HE stars are near, the tardy moon a friend Whose mystic shadows trail the dim parade, The night lights gleam, the songs rise from the glade And jest and jollity and play attend, While touch of music when strong voices blend Gives benediction, as, drawn out, delayed, The slow arpeggios, sadly, softly played, Bring work and duties to their happy end. Oh, that to all might come this bid to rest! Rest after toil is o'er, the work achieved; Symbol of last appeal, heartfelt and deep, To those who, open-eyed, give of their best And freely, too calm, brave and undeceived Nor fear the silence, nor life's long, long sleep! [16] SOMEWHERE IN FRANCE S' SOMEWHERE IN FRANCE "^OMEWHERE in France" they'll bivouac 'neath the sky, As poplared roads lead straightway to the front Where the scarred towns have borne the frightful brunt Of gun and mine; and all things open lie, A cratered desert, grim, where none may ply The trades of Peace ; but, used to death, full blunt, From trench to trench the hidden foe must hunt, Giving no quarter as they sullen fly! "Somewhere in France" This is the only hope To save from those who batten on the slain, To meet the menace of this armored might Where Joan was victor they must more than cope, Or else the rumbling tocsin sounds in vain, And all that man achieved sinks into night! 17] TO THE AVIATORS TO THE AVIATORS VICTORY o'er all the ways of air And menace of the trackless main, Is to the men who do and dare In driven plane! Above the rugged rind of earth, Above the toiling mists of cloud, With triple courage for their girth, They move, uncowed! For, lo, as graceful birds they soar, Cutting the blue on easy wing; Audacious, as the motors roar, They have their fling! Whate'er the rudder's incidence, With head reversed to ground or sky, Battling with hostile elements, Gayly they fly! And where the rule of fiery Mars Calls to a service peril-fraught, As Mercuries, proud of their scars, They rival thought! [181 TO THE AVIATORS And, battling in the dizzy height, They strike to save a world in fee Of "Frightf ulness," hate black as night, And cruelty! And though Death lurks in every thrill, In every heart-beat of the plane; All undeterred they pit their skill, And not in vain! This is the way of pioneers, The way of men who do and dare, Who, rising through the coward fears, Conquer the air! [19] FESTIVAL DAYS MEMORIAL DAY MEMORIAL DAY 1917 AL those about to serve anew salute, Near the green mounds of those who won a name, With deeper ardor, prouder of the fame That tells of old-time valor, not of brute, Nor stirred by hope of self, whose deeds confute The coarse abuse of ravening Huns, who claim In fee of blood and ruin tribute; blame All people as they seize the world for loot. Not such the memories of this holy day, Not such the wish of those who bravely planned For millions freed, a country unified; So we, not moved by lust to idly slay, Loosing the sword that wrong fore'er be banned, Laurel again these pioneers who died ! [23] AT INDEPENDENCE HALL AT INDEPENDENCE HALL THE RALLY TO THE FLAG- MARCH 31, 1917 NOT for brute conquests meet these hosts today, Nor that gross Might upon the weak should tread, Gloating with pride o'er trenches heaped with dead, Dire toll of those who, ruthless, seek their way, Deaf to all tears and voice of those who pray, For simple chance to live, the boon of bread, Crushed 'neath the wrack of war, blood drenched with dread, Shrinking from horrors that no hand may stay No, no; these come, in brave enmillioned state, To offer service at this olden shrine, Eager to hear Columbia's clarion call 'Gainst Craft enthroned; to Freedom consecrate, As, floating to the wind, a Heaven-sent sign, Unfurled for Right, the Flag is over all ! THE CELEBRATION THE CELEBRATION JULY FOURTH, 1917 ONCE more the bells give tongue to liberty, Proclaim once more the equal rights of man, The fall of tyrants, time's fulfilled plan, As patriots in new brotherhood would free All nations from the fanged autocracy, Whose minions from the blood-stained barriers scan Chimaera-like the lands still 'neath their ban, In sodden slavery by fell decree! Yea, this fair day must sound the deeper note, Intone new antiphon of world in arms, With nobler purpose every one imbue; And, as o'er land and sea the colors float And yeomen press to war despite alarms, O let the greater future rise in view! [25] IN THE KAISER'S HONOR IN THE KAISER'S HONOR! IN THE KAISER'S HONOR! "Monstrum horrendum, informe, ingens, cui lumen ademptum." Virgil, Aeneid, Book III PARAPHRASE A MONSTER bloated with the pride of race, From whom the light has lo, been ta'en away, Bereft of vision; as to heart, no trace; In form, a man; in acts, a beast of prey! 129] THE WERE-WOLF THE WERE-WOLF IF, lo, the fang that drips could voice its glee, The slunk hyena cry its frightfulness, The jackal speak, with glutted tongue confess Its midnight deed; none, none could be more free Than this stark Hun whose cloak of majesty Is but th' imperial shroud of those who, less Than ravening beasts, gloat as cadavers press; Praise God that blood may redden all the sea! At large! Unmasked! Let every patriot rise, Forswear the sloth, indifference of the past; Strengthen the bulwarks and with vision scan The far horizon where the menace lies; Strike to secure ere falls the baleful blast Honor and olden faith 'tween man and man! [so] THE EXEMPLAR THE EXEMPLAR (The Minister of Public Instruction has suggested that the Kaiser be held up as an exemplar to all the school children in the empire. Cable dispatch.) BEFORE these innocents they would o'er- praise This madman who has sacrificed to Thor His hecatombs to glut his thirst for war; Thinking in red, who finds his "day of days" When the swift bomb from aircraft sudden slays The babes at matins; eager counts the score, Gloats o'er the slain, unsated asks for more As the whole world looks on in stark amaze. Exemplar? Then revile the good and great, Exalt the monsters, give them sure requite, Mock Christ again, bow to the Tetrarch's nod, Praise ye the vile forever execrate, In sheerest paradox let black be white, Nero a saint, Caligula a god ! [31 THE BAYONET PRACTICE AT PLATTSBURQ THE BAYONET PRACTICE AT PLATTSBURG THESE wisps of rags, these fascines, men of straw, These shapeless things on which they vent their will, Gaining perfection in the hideous drill, Stand for the enemy that knows no law, Whose faith enfesters with the poisoned flaw, Enshambling nations that he may fulfill His own red boast of Cesar's power to kill In savagery, with life cut to the raw. So shrink not from the thrust, there's no remorse For those who strike the were-wolf in its lair, Or crush th' envenomed brood of cruelty. But oh, that he, the marplot, in his corse Should expiate these sodden crimes laid bare; A black oblation for a world set free! [32J HIS VICTIMS NURSE CAVELL MARTYR! NURSE CAVELL MARTYR! "Have Pity on Her" Brand Whitlock. BOUND to the service of her kind in need, Her ministries knew naught of friend or foe; Throughout the wards soft blessings come and go Where'er her footsteps, quick with mercy, lead. Simple her faith and simple, too, her creed: "Bind up the wounded and My hungry feed." This is her record; 'gainst which high and low In vain, with brute aspersions, aim their blow, Seeking excuses for insensate deed! Aye ! ask for pity ! though the minions laugh And hi derision flout the fond appeals, Glutting their hate on corse so foully slain! Though all the world this bitter cup must quaff, Fearless tell all and place as truth reveals Upon th' imperial brow the brand of Cain! [35 THE LUSITANIANS THE LUSITANIANS WHO loosed this terror of the hidden deep, Dastards that strike where none have raised a hand? Whose was the word that gave the foul command, The heart the heart that knows no pity, but would sweep All, all before as refuse, and would steep All souls in hatred through the servile land? Enthroning craft, all things of honor banned, Whose is the sowing where but Death may reap? Monster! who wars on helpless innocence, Blind and insensate is thy lust for power, Already have the Fates set out thy name! Add to thy laurels, shrink from no offense, Let all the flags proclaim thy hectic hour; Aye, share with Herod his appointed shame! [36] THE RED CROSS! THE RED CROSS! (The attacks of the Germans on the ambulance headquarters, hospital ships and base hospitals have constituted one of the ghastly features of the war in Europe.) UNDER the cross of red, love's ambuscade Of mercy, there they seek their own, nor ask For ease of labor; e'er the bitter task Compels and holds, free from the gay parade, As all that skill compassioned has of aid Is at their call, sure help and healing flask. Safe once as neophytes enchurched at Pasque And innocent as they, they plied their trade Till lo! the Hun, of carrion birth, all ghoul, Vulture in kind and harpy in his play, The kindly skies with blackest deeds would fret; Like dour Apollyon, breaking Heaven's rule With act unlawful But he will repay, For Christ recrucified will triumph yet! [37] IN BELGIUM! IN BELGIUM! (The Germans are letting the Belgian exiles, weak ened by their privation in the industrial camps, go home to die. News dispatch.) WHAT is this wail of the Flemish leas, Sounding across the unkindly seas, Heard, though the carillons are mute? What is this moan, as of helpless brute Westward turning, with straining eye? "Home to die! Home to die!!" Who are these wastrels who tread the snows, Shivering, unclad, as the raw wind blows, Shrinking before the conqueror's lust, Man and maiden fearing the thrust Of bayonet, as they turn to fly? " Home to die ! Home to die ! ! " The famished who seek what others drop, Mere husks from trough? Whose is the sop That satisfies not while the slave-gang drives? Whose is the mercy that speaks in gyves To those who raise the hopeless cry? " Home to die ! Home to die ! ! " [38] IN BELGIUM! Yea, they come home from the prison pen! Yea, they come home, mere wraiths of men ! Death at their heels, as the world may see, But deathless their honor with conscience free, Martyred! as others crucify With " Home to die ! Home to die ! ! " [39] TO FRANCE TO FRANCE AFTER THREE YEARS OF WAR KIEIMS speaks in trumpet tones though its pale fane Is mute and dark; Verdun in ruins is heard Above all roar of guns: the fearless bird, 'Mid shrapnel singing its sweet matin strain, Is not more blithe than they with this refrain, This purposed heart-beat of a winged word, "They shall not pass," as heroes, uncrushed, gird Themselves anew, the world's great end to gain. O France tho' thy fair bounds are coarsely seamed With furrowed death where wild beasts still prevail, We, long thy debtors, hasten to thine aid Lest all the things of light and love should fail Live on! And freed from Hunnish dragonnade Shed greater glory o'er mankind redeemed ! [40] TO VENICE! TO VENICE! Under Aerial Bombardment WHAT are these monstrous shapes that foul the blue? Where day enchants with swelling dome and tower, And night, moon-quickened, swoons with beauty's dower, The world in thrall ! What is this fulmined dew That falls as hidden meteor hurtling through Rebellious air? as women, helpless cower Clasping their babes in fear of Hell's last hour, Evoked of Satan and his drunken crew ! Venice, live on! Though they are less than kine Who menace, still thy message unobscured Glows like a text of gold ! Without avail The ruin! Lo, 'tis palimpsest divine; Each stone a testament of things endured That truth in loveliness may never fail! 41 TO GERMANY TO GERMANY ''""I r^IS not alone the sober reign of law That sinks to silence, silence of the tombs, As fierce Bellona's murky touch illumes The nations, and the sable curtains drawn O'er hideous scenes; humanity in raw Mad for the tribute in the gathering glooms At Moloch's shrine, whose fiery breath consumes All things loved best, in huge insatiate maw! Why shriek ye, then, on street, the furious will Of despot kings? why boast of battled might, Greeting War's chariot, with exultant breath? Through flames attend, as ministers of ill, 'Tis not the Car of Progress, Car of Light, O, blind! but lo, the Juggernaut of Death! [42] TO THOSE AT REST THE ROLL OF HONOR! THE ROLL OF HONOR! (All the English, French, and Italian Periodicals print regularly page groups of photographs of those lost in action, under the simple tribute of the caption printed above.) COULD these but speak would they have aught to say But that they gladly heard the call, and went Nor willed to linger till old age were spent, When for their country came th' unwelcome day, Fate's fierce assortal? No; far more than clay, Knowing full well what the shrill summons meant, They faced the foe, heart-whole, with head unbent, And took the step that led but one dark way! THE ROLL OF HONOR! Yea, we too now share Its roster; see the same untroubled glance Of our own dead, the names set out, no more Yet what a blazonry beyond compare! For you, for me, for all, they dared, in France, That, lo, new dawns shall break unfouled by war! [45] IN MEMORIAM IN MEMORIAM To OP THE AMBULANCE SERVICE ON THE FRENCH FRONT P^HESE are his things, not as he went away, Jaunty and trim for service but full worn; Dirt of the road and car and roughly torn, Yet telling of him, as such remnants may, In cut of cloth, the shoulder slope, the play Of greaves dark-stained, the cloak so limp, forlorn, Tho' once so fresh, and oh, so gaily borne By him who knows at last nor night, nor day, Aye, pack them up! Who would, who could destroy? Lay them hi cedar fragrant as his life; At rest, above all time's requite and pain, Noble in heart and soul without alloy, His is the Kingdom, free from earthly strife, Of those who fought and fell but not in vain. [46] ORDINARY SEAMEN THE DEAD "Ordinary Seamen." SO ran their service, no offense in name; And lo, they lead who were the first to fall, Who heard, without dispute, their country's call And blithely followed when the summons came, Untroubled over cause or counter claim, Knowing one flag unfurled and over all; Nor fearsome lest its folds should prove a pall, They, recking little, found an instant fame O ! when the high and low in greed of pelf Invite envenomed conflict, class arrayed 'Gainst class, and loudly prate with idle breath Of liberty, and yet know nought but sen*. These are the true exemplars, who obeyed; In simple line of duty met their death! [47] GOING WEST "GOING WEST."* WHERE clouds in breaking show a crystal sea All haline with the lights of dying day, And distance, as the last of sunbeams play, Drops into depths of green eternity, And through the "Ivory Gates" of dreams to be The purple barks of Charon 'mid the spray Of golden wavelets drift, They take their way 'Mid earthly glories yielding life's rich fee. Dust to the dust and spirit to its kind, Part of the universal swirl that turns In rythmic motion ever 'round the pole, They are resolved, as heart that freely burns With ardent love, into the flaming whole, Choiring at one with everlasting mind ! In the parlance of the men at the front "going West" i* used euphemism for dying. [48] THK UBKAK1 OF CALIFOttNU- UOS ANGELES A 001 247 680 o PS 35U5