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The Grenadier’s Good-Bye

Henry Newbolt

“When Lieutenant Murray fell, the only words he spoke were,
‘Forward, Grenadiers!’”——Press Telegram.


Here they halted, here once more
  Hand from hand was rent;
Here his voice above the roar
  Rang, and on they went.
Yonder out of sight they crossed,
  Yonder died the cheers;
One word lives where all is lost——
  “Forward, Grenadiers!”

This alone he asked of fame,
  This alone of pride;
Still with this he faced the flame,
  Answered Death, and died.
Crest of battle sunward tossed,
  Song of the marching years,
This shall live though all be lost——
  “Forward, Grenadiers!”
Online text © 1998-2009 Poetry X. All rights reserved.
From Collected Poems 1897—1907
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