The Churchill Series – Apr 18, 2006

(One of a series of weekday posts on the life of Winston S. Churchill.)

Churchill loved poetry. He read it; he memorized it; and he enjoyed reciting poems.

Today is many of us recall Longfellow’s poem, “The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere”

It begins: “On the 18th of April in ’75”

So today a poem in tribute to Churchill, written at the time of his death by Duff Cooper, who held many cabinet offices in Churchill’s cabinets.

When ears were deaf and tongues were mute,
You told of doom to come.
When others fingered on the flute
You thundered on the drum.

When armies marched and cities burned
And all you said came true,
Those who had mocked your warnings turned
Almost too late to you.

Then doubt gave way to firm belief,
And through five cruel years
You gave us glory in our grief,
And laughter through our tears.

When final honours are bestowed
And last accounts are done,
Then shall we know how much was owed
By all the world to one.