History & Politics
Who Goes Home?
From Wine, Water and Song (1915)
In the city set upon slime and loam
They cry in their parliament "Who goes home?"
And there comes no answer in arch or dome,
For none in the city of graves goes home.
Yet these shall perish and understand,
For God has pity on this great land.
Men that are men again; who goes home?
Tocsin and trumpeter! Who goes home?
For there's blood on the field and blood on the foam
And blood on the body when Man goes home.
And a voice valedictory.... Who is for Victory?
Who is for Liberty? Who goes home?
Codex Note
Twelve lines set in a 'city set upon slime and loam' whose parliament cries 'Who goes home?' and gets no answer. The question recurs through images of battle, 'Tocsin and trumpeter!', and ends with the call 'Who is for Liberty? Who goes home?'
Cite this poem
MLA
Chesterton, G. K. “Who Goes Home?” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/chesterton/45/.
Chicago
Chesterton, G. K. “Who Goes Home?” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/chesterton/45/.
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