Poem by Gilbert Keith Chesterton

A Marriage Song

WHY should we reck of hours that rend
   While we two ride together?
The heavens rent from end to end
   Would be but windy weather,
The strong stars shaken down in spate
   Would be a shower of spring,
And we should list the trump of fate
   And hear a linnet sing.

We break the line with stroke and luck,
   The arrows run like rain,
If you be struck, or I be struck,
   There's one to strike again.
If you befriend, or I befriend,
   The strength is in us twain,
And good things end and bad things end,
   And you and I remain.

Why should we reck of ill or well
   While we two ride together?
The fires that over Sodom fell
   Would be but sultry weather.
Beyond all ends to all men given
   Our race is far and fell,
We shall but wash our feet in heaven,
   And warm our hands in hell.

Battles unborn and vast shall view
   Our faltered standards stream,
New friends shall come and frenzies new,
   New troubles toil and teem;
New friends shall pass and still renew
   One truth that does not seem,
That I am I, and you are you,
   And Death a morning dream.

Why should we reck of scorn or praise
   While we two ride together?
The icy air of godless days
   Shall be but wintry weather.
If hell were highest, if the heaven
   Were blue with devils blue,
I should have guessed that all was even,
   If I had dreamed of you.

Little I reck of empty prides,
   Of creeds more cold than clay;
To nobler ends and longer rides,
   My lady rides to-day.
To swing our swords and take our sides
   In that all-ending fray
When stars fall down and darkness hides,
   When God shall turn to bay.

Why should we reck of grin and groan
   While we two ride together?
The triple thunders of the throne
   Would be but stormy weather.
For us the last great fight shall roar,
   Upon the ultimate plains,
And we shall turn and tell once more
   Our love in English lanes. 

1. Music
2. The House of Christmas
3. Bay Combe
4. The Mortal Answers
5. The Strange Music

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