Branksome Hall - Slogan Yearbook (Toronto, Ontario Canada)

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22 The Branksome) Slogan In the last verse she visualizes their final reward for their complete sacrifice. ' ' They who had all, gave all. Their half-writ story Lies in the empty halls they knew so well. But they, the knights of God, shall see His glory, And find the Grail ev ' n in the fields of hell. Another poem like Subalterns is The Spires of Oxford, by Winifred Letts. The author is passing through Oxford when she sees the grey spires of Oxford against the pearl-grey sky. Seeing the spires, she is reminded of the men who left their happy University life and went abroad to die. Rudyard Kipling wrote two poems during the war which, although not as beautiful as some, are very good. These two poems are : For All We Have and Are and Who Dies if England Live. In these poems he exhorts the young men of England to fight to the utmost for the Motherland. A famous war poem, In Flanders Fields, was written by a Canadian, John McCrae. The author, who was on active service, died a few months later. The poem needs no introduction or explanation. In Flanders fields, the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row That mark our place ; and in the sky The larks still bravely singing, fly, Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow. Loved and were loved, and now we Ue In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe, To you from failing hands we throw The torch: be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields. The beauty of the poetry written during the war lies in its interpretation of the noble self-sacrifice, unfailing endurance, unflinching courage and flaming patriotism of the young men of England who went to the front. This poetry shows the attitude of scorn which existed to this age and how gloriously it was refuted. These gave their lives away, Poured out the red, sweet wine of youth. — Rupert Brooke. MARY BECKER, Form V (Clan Ross).

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The: Branksomk Si ogan 21 English Poetry in the Great War Tell England, ye who pass this monument, We died for her and here we rest content. Tell England — Ernest Raymond. The World War had a great influence on English poetry. Many poets who might otherwise have died unknown, scaled the heights of fame through the medium of their war poetry. This poetry may, with a few exceptions, be divided into two classes. To the first class belong those poems whose authors were on active service. To the second class belong those poems whose authors were at home. One of the most outstanding poems of the first class is The Soldier, by Rupert Brooke. He had just enlisted in the Royal Naval Reserve and his poem shows that he had a premonition of his approaching death. If I should die, think only this of me. That there ' s some comer of a foreign field That is forever England. While his other poems are not unworthy of merit, this poem shows his genius. And think, this heart, all evil shed away A pulse in the eternal mind, no less Gives somewhere back the thoughts by England given Her sights and sounds; dreams happy as her day; And laughter, learnt of friends ; and gentleness. In hearts at peace, under an English heaven. Of the second class is Mildred Huxley ' s poem, Subalterns. The speaker is represented as being an old English college who has seen her sons go to war with proud surrender and emphasizes the sacrifice that they have made. Yet here and there some graybeard breathed derision. Too much of luxury! too soft an age! Your careless Galahads will see no vision. Your knights will make no mark on honour ' s page. No mark? Go ask the broken fields of Flanders, Ask the great dead who watched in ancient Troy, Ask the old moon as ' round the earth she wanders. What of the boys who were my hope and joy?

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The Branksome Slogan 23 A Legend The story of the Occident And how it got its name, Is very like the camel ' s hump, Which rose so high to fame. Once, long ago, the Orient Was highly civilized; Its sailors scoured the fartherest seas. Their trophies v ere so prized. And one bold captain sailed so far, Beneath the pale moonlight, He found the West by Accident And christened it that night. CAROLINE BULL, Form V. Coral Wool I w ind a ball of coral w ool And think of a sea-shell, glistening, cool. I knit a stitch of the glow ing thread, And dream of the sun ' s path over- head. With needles of jade I can fashion a shawl. And a soft, playful kitten can worry my ball ; So I knit in a little of coral wool To recapture the thoug ht of a sunlit pool. WILMA BATE, Form V. Evening The sky in the West is crimson and gold. The day that was new now becomes old. The sun which sees both joy and sorrow, Sinks with a smile that says : See you tomorrow. The lanterns of heaven hang high in the sky. The wind in the tall trees just seems to sigh. All work and harsh noises of daytime cease. All is silent and the world is at peace. BETTY GORDON, Form IV (Clan Douglas). Things I Like the Best These are things I like the best, — Golden sands on which to rest. Great white breakers tumbling in, Water warm in which to swim. My own horse on which to ride, My own dog to run beside, My own room in my own style, With my own books to browse awhile. Summer sports and winter too, Camping trips with my canoe. Tramping hills in winter snow, Skiing, hockey, — cheeks aglow. And now I think it is time for me To go and lie beside the sea. Until somebody comes to say, ' Tis time for me to work today. EDITH KIRK. Form II A.