Explore "W. E. H" by Gilbert Parker on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
"Henley is dead! " Ah, but the sound and the sight of him, / Buoyant, commanding, and strong, suffering, noble in mind!
Gone, and no more shall we have any discourse or delight of him, / Wearing his pain like a song, casting his troubles behind.
Gallant and fair! Feeling the soul and the ruth of things, / Probing the wounds of the world, healing he brought and surcease -- / Laughter he gave, beauty to teach us the truth of things, / Music to march to the fight, ballads for hours of peace.
Now it is done! Fearless the soul of him strove for us, / Viking in blood and in soul, baring his face to the rain, / Facing the storm he fared on, singing for England and love of us, / On to the last corral where now he lies beaten and slain.
Beaten and slain! Yes, but England hath heed of him, / Singer of high degree, master of thought and of word -- / She shall bear witness with tears, of the pride and the / loss and the need of him; / We shall measure the years by the voice and the song unheard.