by Chesterton · Cluster: War and its Cost · American Civil War · Battlefield
Abstract
A short, martial lyric on the city, parliament and the call ‘Who goes home?’, turning a civic cry into a meditation on blood, liberty, victory and the soul’s homecoming after death.
Testo / Text
Connections
Topoi: War as Glory Motifs: Blood, City, Grave, Journey, Drums and Bugles, Home Themes & Concepts: Mortality, Nationalism and Patriotism, War and its Cost, Heroism, Freedom and Liberty, Providence Forms & Genres: Lyric, Comic Verse Song Settings: London, Battlefield
Testo integrale / Full text
Who Goes Home?
In the city set upon slime and loam
They cry in their parliament 'Who goes home?'
And there comes no answer in arch or dome,
For none in the city of graves goes home.
Yet these shall perish and understand,
For God has pity on this great land.
Men that are men again; who goes home?
Tocsin and trumpeter! Who goes home?
For there's blood on the field and blood on the foam
And blood on the body when Man goes home.
And a voice valedictory . . . Who is for Victory?
Who is for Liberty? Who goes home?
G. K. Chesterton