The Home-Coming

When this blast is over-blown,
    And the beacon fires shall burn
              And in the street
              Is the sound of feet –
    They also shall return.

When the bells shall rock and ring,
    When the flags shall flutter free,
              And the choirs shall sing,
              ‘God save our King’ –
    They shall be there to see.

When the brazen bands shall play,
    And the silver trumpets blow,
              And the soldiers come
              To the tuck of drum –
    They shall be there also.

When that which was lost is found;
    When each shall have claimed his kin,
              Fear not they shall miss
              Mother's clasp, maiden's kiss –
    For no strange soil might hold them in.

When Te Deums seek the skies,
    When the Organ shakes the Dome,
              A dead man shall stand
              At each live man's hand –
    For they also have come home.