26 MAY 1917, Page 13

POETRY.

THE CHILDREN'S WAR.

Tufa is the Children's War : because The victory's to the young and clean ! 'Up to the Dragon's ravening jaws March dear Eighteen and Seventeen.

Fresh from the Chrisom waters pure Dear lads, so eager to attain To the bright visions that allure • The Knight's ordeal,. the red pain.

The light is yet upon their curls; . The dream is yet within their eyes; Their cheeks are silken as a girl's; The little Knichts of Paradise.

0 men with many scars and stains,

Stand back, abase your souls and pray! For now to Nineteen are the gains And golden Twenty wins the day.

Brown heads with curls all rippled over,

Young bodies slender as a flame; They leap to darkness like a lover—

To Twenty-one is fall'u the game.

It is the Boys' War. Praise be given To Percivale and Galahad,

Who have won earth and taken Heaven By violence! Weep not, but be glad!

KATHARINE TYNAN.