War and I

Grady McMurtry

[circa late 1942]

The warrior drums across the seas

Have rolled another war;

Embattled Britain stands at bay

Still proud above the roar,

As keel on keel the sharks of steel

Are sliding down the way,

The hawks of death in airy sleath

Are pouncing on their prey.

And once again America

Is gathering her strength

To hold the arteries of life

Across the ocean’s length;

To turn the tide, at Britain’s side,

To smash the pagan Hun,

And when the peace of battles cease

To right that which is done.

For this I must be merciless

For this I must be brave

For this I know the arts of war

For this I face the grave.

[11]