Ballads of Peace in War

LINDEN LANE

     HOLY CROSS: MAY, 1917

    (For Major Joseph W. O'Connor, '03)

    Birds are merry and the buds
    Come along with May:
    Lonely is the linden land
    For lads that went today.

    What calls the May of song
    But the fair young spring?
    Heard our boys another tune
    Sterner voices sing.

    Bugles blew by land and sea,
    And the tocsin drum;
    See, brave hearts go down the hill,
    Shouting, "Hail, we come."

    From the towers that show the Cross,
    Staunch the Flag waved out,
    And the royal Purple shook
    Joyous with the shout.

    Heigh-ho! And a lusty cheer,
    Down the linden lane:
    The pine grove looked but cannot tell
    If they'll come home again.

    Few may take the homeward road
    When the war is done:
    Where they fall or when they come,
    Hail, to the cause they won.

    Till the buds and the merry birds
    Come another May,
    Cross and Flag aloft shall bless
    Brave lads who went today.