| The body lay on fragrant earth under empty skies in an open field
|
| A shallow grave, unmarked, unnoticed, in crumbling furrows carved by rusted
|
| ploughs
|
| They will bury your empty coffin; |
| they will raise for you a
|
| Stone
|
| They will know you fell in glory
|
| In the corner of some lonely foreign field
|
| Broken cloud, fleeting shadows, silhouettes are scattered
|
| Cross the sky
|
| The hollow laughter fills the heavens
|
| And echoes round a still and silent field
|
| Where you have climbed Jacob’s ladder; |
| where you saw the light of God
|
| And from the voices of his angels the Truth was heard, the Truth was heard
|
| I have slept in the shadows of moonstruck trees
|
| A mossy pillow my rock of dreams
|
| The wood smoke lingers among smouldering leaves
|
| Like my thoughts are carried away on a stiffening breeze
|
| To the domes and spires, the glittering towers
|
| Of palaces of kings and thrones of power
|
| I will climb Jacob’s ladder; |
| I will see the light of God, I will hear from the
|
| tongues of angels his Holy words
|
| I take the field in honest battle
|
| My father’s sword is sure in hand
|
| My heart my shield, my dreams my armour
|
| My banners high my hopes are gathered
|
| Fortunes home I’ll surely carry
|
| And the bells will ring in honour of my name
|
| Should I falter, should I tarry
|
| Should I hesitate, should I fall
|
| Then bury me in your memories
|
| Let our children hear the bugle call
|
| Let them climb Jacob’s ladder; |
| let them see the light of
|
| God
|
| Let them hear from the tongues of angels his Holy words
|
| Let them take the field |