Who Goes Home?

Gilbert Keith Chesterton 1874 (Kensington, London) – 1936 (Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire)



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?

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on April 18, 2023

30 sec read
63

Quick analysis:

Scheme AAAABB AAAAXA
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 605
Words 100
Stanzas 2
Stanza Lengths 6, 6

Gilbert Keith Chesterton

Gilbert Keith Chesterton was an influential English writer of the early 20th century His diverse output included journalism philosophy poetry biography Christian apologetics fantasy and detective fiction Gilbert Keith Chesterton KC*SG was an English writer, philosopher, lay theologian, and literary and art critic. He has been referred to as the "prince of paradox". Time magazine observed of his writing style: "Whenever possible Chesterton made his points with popular sayings, proverbs, allegories—first carefully turning them inside out." more…

All Gilbert Keith Chesterton poems | Gilbert Keith Chesterton Books

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    Quiz

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    Lewis Carroll wrote: "You are old father William, the young man said..."
    A "and you seem to have lost your sight"
    B "and you're going to die tonight"
    C "and your eyes have become less bright"
    D "and your hair has become very white"