By all the glories of the day, <br />And the cool evening's benison, <br />By that last sunset touch that lay, <br />Upon the hills when day was done, <br />By beauty lavishly outpoured, <br />And blessings carelessly received, <br />By all the days that I have lived, <br />Make me a soldier, Lord. <br /> <br />By all of man's hopes and fears, <br />And all the wonders poets sing, <br />The laughter of unclouded years, <br />And every sad and lovely thing; <br />By the romantic ages stored <br />With high endeavour that was his, <br />By all his mad catastrophes <br />Make me a man, O Lord. <br /> <br />I, that on my unfamiliar hill <br />Saw with uncomprehending eyes <br />A hundred of thy sunsets spill <br />Their fresh and sanguine sacrifice, <br />Ere the sun swings his noonday sword <br />Must say good-bye to all of this;- <br />By all delights that I shall miss, <br />Help me to die, O Lord.<br /><br />William Noel Hodgson<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/before-action-2/
