In the Day of Battle POEMS OF THE GREAT WAR SELECTED BY CARRIE ELLEN HOLMAN SECOND EDITION TORONTO WILLIAM BRIGGS The sale of the first edition of this book has resulted, as Copyright, Canada, 1916, by HUMBLY DEDICATED TO THE 317313 NOTE This selection of poems inspired by the Great War is made possible through the courtesy of the authors and publishers, who have cordially co-operated with me in this undertaking in aid of relief work for Canadian soldiers. CARRIE ELLEN HOLMAN. Summerside, Prince Edward Island, [September, 1916] In the new edition of "In The Day of Battle," I am fortunate enough to be able to include additional poems, by Rudyard Kipling, Julian Grenfell, Alan Seeger, George Rostrevor, Percy Mackaye, and Richard Butler Glaenzer. London, England, C. E. H. FOREWORD A MONG the books inspired by the war, few need less apology than those of which this little volume is representative, compilations of the more or less fugitive verse appearing at various stages of the struggle in journals, and then perhaps carried off into oblivion by some wind of great events. A compilation captures the winged words and treasures them. It deserves to have an honoured place in the long array of more formidable volumes, for it is undeniable that among the minor results of the Great War is a vast output of war literature. Volumes of history, theory and prophecy weigh down our shelves, pamphlets cover our tables 66 thick as autumnal leaves that strow the brooks in Vallombrosa." Among these latter is one on Poetry and War by the Professor of Poetry at Oxford, Sir Herbert Warren, and at the head of his paper we find the suggestive old lines of Samuel Daniel: What good is like to this To do worthy the writing, and to write Worthy the reading and the world's delight? It is a good motto and sets us thinking of one aspect of this extraordinary epoch of which the end is not yet, namely the relation of its literature to its action. Of deeds worthy the writing we have no lack, of writing |