The Heroes

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By such strange and wonderful ways
  God would save His world again.
All our days are holy days,
  Starry heroes all our men.

There's naught common or unclean
  In this splendid new-made earth:
Hearts uplifted, eyes serene,
  Grief goes gayer now than mirth.

Quietly in the sacred night
  Tears must fall, O noble tears!
That are shed in the Lords' sight
  And are only for His ears.

Who would mourn aloud for sons
  Gorgeous in our firmament,
Starry constellations
  In the way their fathers went?

From the innumerable grave
  There will spring a world new-born,
With the austerest eyes and brave
  And its clear gaze towards the morn.

He who gave His Son to die
  For man's purchase, gives once more
These, His beloved sons, to buy
  Him a world worth dying for.

© Katharine Tynan