The Drums

A village wrapped in slumber, Silent between the hills, Empty of moon-lit marketplace, Empty of moving life-- Such is my quiet heart. Shadowy-walled it rests, Sleeping its heavy sleep; But sudden across the dark Tingles a sound of drums! The drums, the drums, the distant drums, The throb of the drums strikes up, The beat of the drums awakes! Then loud through the little streets, And strange to the startled roofs, The drums, the drums approach and pound, And throb and clamour and thrill and pass, And between the echoing house-walls All swart and grim they go, The battalions of regret, After the drums, the valiant drums That die away in the night!