Loading...
en
English Español Français Italiano

John Oxenham

The Word That Was Left Unsaid

   “A red rose for my helmet,
   And a word before we part!
   The rose shall be my oriflamme
   The word shall fill my heart.”
   Heart, Heart, Heart of my heart—
   Just a look, just a word and a look!
   A look or a sign that my love shall divine
   And a word for my hungering heart!
 
   She toyed with his love and her roses;
   Was it mischief or mischance?—
   She dropped him a rose—'twas a white one,
   And he lifted it on his lance.
   Heart, Heart, Heart of my heart!
   Is it thus—is it thus we part?
   With never a look, and never a sign,
   Nor a word for my hungering heart!
 
   She sought him among the dying,
   She found him among the dead;
   And the rose was still in his helmet.
   But his life had stained it red.
   Heart, Heart, Heart of my heart!
   Now my heart within me is dead.
   And alack for the look!
   And alas for the sign!
   And the word that was left unsaid!

#EnglishWriters

Other works by John Oxenham...
Thank God For Peace!

Thank God for Peace! Up to the sombre sky Rolled one great thankful sigh, Rolled one great gladsome cry— The soul’s deliverance of a mighty…
A Silent Te Deum

We thank Thee, Lord, For all Thy Golden Silences,— For every Sabbath from the world’… For every respite from the stress… Silence of moorlands rolling to th…
Shortened Lives

To us it seemed his life was too s… Ended, indeed, while scarcely yet… God, with His clearer vision, saw… Was ready for a larger ministry. Just so we thought of Him, whose…
Watchman! What Of The Night?

Watchman! What of the night? No light we see,— Our souls are bruised and sickened… Of this foul crime against humanit… The Ways are dark——
Macedonia, 1903

Devils’ work! Devils’ work, my masters! Britain, your hands are red! You may close your heart, but you… This terrible fact,—We—kept—the—T…
A Little Te Deum For These Times

We thank Thee, Lord, For mercies manifold in these dark… For Heart of Grace that would not… For all the stirrings in the dead… For bold self-steeling to the time…
Seeds

What shall we be like when We cast this earthly body and atta… To immortality? What shall we be like then? Ah, who shall say
Better And Best

Better in bitterest agony to lie, Before Thy throne, Than through much increase to be l… And stand alone. Better by one sweet soul, constant…
Victory Day

As sure as God’s in His Heaven, As sure as He stands for Right, As sure as the hun this wrong hath… So surely we win this fight! Then!-
His Mercy Endureth For Ever

Our feet have wandered, wandered f… His mercy endureth for ever! From that strait path in which the… His mercy endureth for ever! Low have we fallen from our high e…
We Thank Thee, Lord

We thank Thee, Lord, That of Thy tender grace, In our distress Thou hast not left us wholly comfo… We thank Thee, Lord,
Liberty, Equality, Fraternity

O God, within whose sight All men have equal right To worship Thee. Break every bar that holds Thy flock in diverse folds!
Is Life Worth Living?

Is life worth living? It depends on your believing;— If it ends with this short span, Then is man no better than The beasts that perish.
Credo

Not what, but WHOM, I do believ… That, in my darkest hour of need, Hath comfort that no mortal creed To mortal man may give;— Not what, but WHOM!
Where Are You Sleeping To-Night, My Lad?

Where are you sleeping to-night,… Above-ground—or below? The last we heard you were up at t… Holding a trench and bearing the b… But—that was a week ago.



Top