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Read Ebook: Hello Boys! by Wilcox Ella Wheeler
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Ebook has 296 lines and 17170 words, and 6 pages
Edition: 10
HELLO, BOYS!
Contents: Forward Thanksgiving The Brave Highland Laddies Men of the Sea Ode to the British Fleet The German Fleet Deep unto deep was calling The Song of the Allies Ten thousand men a day "America will not turn back" War The Hour The Message "Flowers of France" Our Atlas Camp Followers Come Back Clean Camouflage The Awakening The Khaki Boys who were not at the Front Time's Hymn of Hate Dear Motherland of France The Spirit of Great Joan Speak The Girl of the U.S.A. Passing the Buck Song of the Aviator The Stevedores A Song of Home The Swan of Dijon Veils In France I saw a Hill American Boys, Hello! De Rochambeau After The Blasphemy of Guns The Crimes of Peace It May Be Then and Now Widows Conversation I, too He that hath ears Answers How is it? 'Let us give thanks' The Black Sheep One by one Prayer Be not Dismayed Ascension The Deadliest Sin The Rainbow of Promise They shall not win
FORWARD
The greater part of these verses dealing with the war were written in France during my recent seven months' sojourn there, and for the purpose of using in entertainments given in camps and hospitals to thousands of American soldiers.
They were the result of coming into close contact with the soldiers' mind and heart, and were intentionally expressed in the simplest manner, without any consideration of methods approved by modern critics. The fact that I have been asked to autograph scores of copies of many of these verses is more gratifying to me than would be the highest encomiums of the purely literary critic.
Ella Wheeler Wilcox London, October 1918.
THANKSGIVING
Thanksgiving for the strong armed day, That lifted war's red curse, When Peace, that lordly little word, Was uttered in a voice that stirred - Yea, shook the Universe.
Thanksgiving for the Mighty Hour That brimmed the Victor's cup, When England signalled to the foe, 'The German flag must be brought low And not again hauled up!'
Thanksgiving for the sea and air Free from the Devil's might! Thanksgiving that the human race Can lift once more a rev'rent face, And say, 'God helps the Right.'
Thanksgiving for our men who came In Heaven-protected ships, The waning tide of hope to swell, With 'Lusitania' and 'Cavell' As watchwords on their lips.
Thanksgiving that our splendid dead, All radiant with youth, Dwell near to us--there is no death. Thanksgiving for the broad new faith That helps us know this truth.
THE BRAVE HIGHLAND LADDIES
They were like some old-time picture, or a scene from out a play, They were stalwart, they were young, and debonnair; Their jaunty little caps they wore in such a fetching way, And they showed their handsome legs, and didn't care - And they seemed to own the town As they strode on up and down - Oh, they surely were a sight for tired eyes! Those braw, bonnie laddies In their kilts and their plaidies, And I stared at them with pleasure and surprise.
I had read about the valour of old Scotland's warrior sons - How they fought to a finish, or else fell; I had heard the name bestowed on them by agitated Huns, Who called these skirted soldiers 'Dames of Hell'; And I gave them right of way On their London holiday, As I met them swinging down the street and Strand, Those bonnie, bonnie laddies In their kilts and their plaidies, And I breathed a blessing on them and their land
Now the world is all rejoicing that the end of war has come - And no heart is any gladder than my own, That the brutal, blatant voices of the guns at last are dumb, And the Dove of Peace from out her cage has flown. Yet, when men no more march by, Making pictures for the eye, There's a vital dash of colour earth will lack, When the brave Highland laddies Drop their kilts and their plaidies, And return to common clothes of grey or black!
MEN OF THE SEA
Many the songs of the brave boys sent Over The Top in the battle's thunder; But mine is the song of the men who went Over the top of the waves--and under.
Men of the sea, Men of the sea, I lift mine eyes to the Flags unfurled - The Flags of Victory blowing free Over the new-born world. And I cry 'Thank God! these things can be! Thank God, and the Men of the Sea!'
Little it matters to what they belong, Marine or Navy--or Merchant Ship - To the Men of the Sea I sing my song; A song that rises from heart to lip.
I sing of the valour that ploughed a path Straight through the snares of a crafty foe, Through billows raging with wintry wrath, And over the dens of the devils below.
To the splendid heroes of Jutland Bank And the Royal Navy I give their due; And cheek by jowl with them all, I rank The brave mine-sweepers and merchant crew.
Trawler--Drifter--or English Fleet - All are manned by the Men of the Sea, And all together in my heart meet, For a boat is a boat to the mind of me.
And who ever over the dread seas fared, And however humble his work or place, To the great Christ spirit must be compared - Since he offered his life for the good of the race.
And how many lie in the deep-sea bed, No man can reckon, and no man number; But not one Soul of them all is dead, For death is only the body's slumber.
And the Men of the Mist, who from dark to dawn On the deck or the bridge stand guard at night, Oft feel the presence of comrades gone Who keep watch with them, though veiled from sight.
Many the songs of the brave boys sent Over The Top in the battle's thunder; But mine is the song of the men who went Over the top of the waves--and under.
ODE TO THE BRITISH FLEET
'Invisible and silent'--Mystery Surrounded that great Guardian of the Sea. That Father--Mother--of the mighty main. While loud in valley and on field and hill - And over anguished plain The battles thundered. God himself is still And hidden from men's view; and it were meet That this subliminal force Should move in utter silence on its course Invisible--Inaudible--till that hour When Time, Fate's Minister, should speak and say - 'Come forth! and show thy power!' When Time commands, even the gods obey.
'Invisible and silent'; yet the foe Was driven from the Sea. All impotent The brazen braggart went. While commerce sent her brave ships to and fro; And from Columbia's shores there sailed away Ten thousand men a day - Ten thousand men a day! who reached their goals Bringing new courage to war-weary souls.
Oh, silent wonder of the noisy sea! Though alien, with the blood of Bunker Hill Down filtering through my veins, the heart of me Seems with a mingled love and awe to fill And overflow at thought of that sublime, Unparalleled large hour of Time; When bloodless Victory saw the foes' flag furled - That insolent menace to a righteous world.
Great Britain's Fleet unshaken in its might, Proclaimed itself again in all men's sight The Mistress of the Main. Fair Freedom's friend, May peace and glory on thy path attend.
THE GERMAN FLEET
Lie down, and let the billows hide your shame, Oh, shorn and naked outcast of the seas! You who confided to each ocean breeze Your coming conquests, and made loud acclaim Of your own grandeur and exalted fame; You who have catered to they world's disease; You who have drunk hate's wine, and found the lees; Lie down! and let all men forget your name!
You dreamed of world dominion! you! the spawn Of hell and hatred--Foe to all things free - Sworn enemy to honour, truth and right; Too poor a thing now for the Devil's pawn, Let the large mercy of the outraged sea Engulf and hide you evermore from sight.
DEEP UNTO DEEP WAS CALLING
They rode through the bannered city - The King and the Commoner, And the hopes of the world were with them, And the heart of the world was astir. For the moss-grown walls seemed falling That have shut away men from Kings; And Deep unto Deep was calling For the coming of greater things.
They rode to an age-old Palace Where the feet of the Mighty go - And the King from Kings descending - And the Man of the People's choice In a Super-Man seemed blending, And they spoke as with one voice.
It was not a pageant of Victors - Or a triumph hour of man, That ride through the bannered City, It was part of a Mighty Plan; And the sound of old barriers falling Rose there where those Rulers trod, For Deep unto Deep was calling In the resonant Voice of God.
THE SONG OF THE ALLIES
We are the Allies of God to-day, And the width of the earth is our right of way. Let no man question or ask us why, As we speed to answer a wild world cry; Let no man hinder or ask us where, As out over water and land we fare; For whether we hurry, or whether we wait, We follow the finger of guiding fate.
We are the Allies. We differ in faith, But are one in our courage at thought of death. Many and varied the tongues we speak, But one and the same is the goal we seek. And the goal we seek is not power or place, But the peace of the world, and the good of the race. And little matters the colour of skin, When each heart under it beats to win.
We are the Allies; we fight or fly, We wallow in trenches like pigs in a sty, We dive under water to foil a foe, We wait in quarters, or rise and go. And staying or going, or near or far, One thought is ever our guiding star: We are the Allies of God to-day, We are the Allies--make way! make way!
TEN THOUSAND MEN A DAY
All the world was wearying, All the world was sad; Everything was shadow-filled; Things were going bad. Then a rumour stirred all hearts As a wind stirs trees - Ten thousand men a day Coming over seas!
Soon we saw them marching by - God! what a sight! - Shoulders back, and heads erect, Faces full of light. Smiling like a morn in May, Moving like a breeze, Ten thousand men a day Coming over seas.
Weary soldiers worn with war Lifted up their eyes, Shadows seemed to fade a bit, Dawn was in the skies. Hope sprang to troubled hearts, Strength to tired knees: Ten thousand men a day Were coming over seas.
France and England swarmed with them, Khaki-clad and young, Filled with all the joy of life - Into line they swung. Waning valour rose anew At the sight of these Ten thousand men a day Coming over seas.
Still they come--and still they come In their strength and pride. Victory with radiant mien Marches on beside. Victory is here to stay, Every heart agrees, With ten thousand men a day Coming over seas.
'AMERICA WILL NOT TURN BACK' WOODROW WILSON
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