From Bideford and Appledore in craft of subtle gray Are strong hearts and steady hearts to keep the sea to-day; So well may fare the garden where the cider-apples bloom And summer weaves her colour-threads upon a golden loom; For ready are the tawny hands that guard the Devon shore, The cool men, the bluff men, The keen men, the tough men, The men that hie from Bideford and ruddy Appledore! PERCY HASELDEN _Reprinted by special permission of London "Punch"_ CHALK AND FLINT Comes there now a mighty rally From the weald and from the coast, Down from cliff and up from valley, Spirits of an ancient host; Castle gray and village mellow, Coastguard's track and shepherd's fold, Crumbling church and cracked martello Echo to this chant of old-- Chant of knight and chant of bowman: _Kent and Sussex feared no foeman In the valiant days of old_! Screaming gull and lark a-singing, Bubbling brook and booming sea, Church and cattle bells a-ringing Swell the ghostly melody; "Chalk and flint, Sirs, lie beneath ye, Mingling with our dust below! Chalk and flint, Sirs, they bequeath ye This our chant of long ago!" Chant of knight and chant of bowman, Chant of squire and chant of yeoman: _Kent and Sussex feared no foeman In the days of long ago_! Hills that heed not Time or weather, Sussex down and Kentish lane, Roads that wind through marsh and heather Feel the mail-shod feet again; Chalk and flint their dead are giving-- Spectres grim and spectres bold-- Marching on to cheer the living With their battle-chant of old-- Chant of knight and chant of bowman, Chant of squire and chant of yeoman: _Witness Norman! Witness Roman! Kent and Sussex feared no foeman In the valiant days of old!_ _Reprinted by special permission of London "Punch"_ A GRAVE IN FLANDERS All night the tall trees overhead Are whispering to the stars; Their roots are wrapped about the dead And hide the hideous scars. The tide of war goes rolling by, The legions sweep along; And daily in the summer sky The birds will sing their song. No place is this for human tears, The time for tears is done; Transfigured in these awful years, The two worlds blend in one. This boy had visions while in life Of stars on distant skies; So death came in the midst of strife A sudden, glad surprise. He found the songs for which he yearned, Hopes that had mocked desire; His heart is resting now which burned With such consuming fire.