io STEVENSON'S POEMS
PRELUDE
BY sunny market-place and street Wherever I go my drum I beat, And wherever I go in my coat of red The ribbons flutter about my head.
I seek recruits for wars to come— For slaughterless wars 1 beat the drum, And the shilling I give to each new ally Is hope to live and courage to die.
I know that new recruits shall come Wherever I beat the sounding drum, Till the roar of the march by country and town Shall shake the tottering Dagons down.
For I was objectless as they
And loitering idly day by day;
But whenever I heard the recruiters come,
I left my all to follow the drum.