I have a rendezvous with Death At some disputed barricade; When Spring comes back with rustling shade And apple blossoms fill the air-- I have a rendezvous with Death When Spring brings back blue days and fair. It may be he shall take my hand And lead me into his dark land, And close my eyes and quench my breath-- It may be I shall pass him still. I have a rendezvous with Death On some scarred slope of battered hill, When Spring comes round again this year And the first meadow flowers appear. God knows 'twere better to be deep Pillowed on silk and scented down, Where Love throbs out in blissful sleep, Pulse nigh to pulse and breath to breath, Where hushed awakenings are dear-- But I've a rendezvous with Death, At midnight in some flaming town, When Spring trips north again this year, And I to my pledged word am true, I shall not fail that rendezvous. [E]ALAN SEEGER _From "Poems by Alan Seeger"--Copyright, 1916, by Charles Scribner's Sons. By permission of the Publishers_ FOOTNOTE: [E] Killed in action at Belloy-en-Santerre, July, 1916 IN MEMORIAM Let pride with grief go hand in hand: They join the hallowed hosts who died In battle for their lovely land: With light about their brows they ride. Young hearts and hot, grey heads and wise, Good knights of all the years foregone, Faith in their England in their eyes, Still ride they on, still ride they on! By altars old their banners fade Beneath dear spires; their names are set In minster aisle, in yew-tree shade: Their memories fight for England yet. Let pride with grief go hand in hand, Sad Love with Patience side by side; In battle for their lovely land Not vainly England's sons have died! And well may pride this hour befit; For not since England's days began More fiery clear the word was writ: Who dies for England dies for Man! HELEN GRAY CONE _From "The Post of Honour"--By permission of J. M. Dent & Sons, Ltd., Toronto_ GUNS OF VERDUN Guns of Verdun point to Metz From the plated parapets; Guns of Metz grin back again O'er the fields of fair Lorraine. Guns of Metz are long and gray, Growling through a summer day; Guns of Verdun, gray and long, Boom an echo of their song. Guns of Metz to Verdun roar, "Sisters, you shall foot the score;" Guns of Verdun say to Metz, "Fear not, for we pay our debts." Guns of Metz they grumble, "When?" Guns of Verdun answer then, "Sisters, when to guard Lorraine Gunners lay you East again!" PATRICK R. CHALMERS _By permission of the Author_ VERDUN (_Spoken in the vault of the citadel of Verdun, September, 1916_)