The Route March
The Route March - meaning Summary
Children's Voices and War
Henry Lawson’s poem presents the image of children singing as troops march by, juxtaposing youthful innocence with the larger realities of war. Addressing fellow citizens as "O my brothers," the voice notes both the fleeting cheer and an underlying grief, imagining orphaned children and tears when the soldiers return. The poem questions communal attitudes toward military departure and remembrance, emphasizing how public spectacle can mask private loss.
Read Complete AnalysesDid you hear the children singing, O my brothers? Did you hear the children singing as our troops went marching past? In the sunshine and the rain, As they’ll never sing again Hear the little school-girls singing as our troops went swinging past? Did you hear the children singing, O my brothers? Did you hear the children singing for the first man and the last? As they marched away and vanished, To a tune we thought was banished Did you hear the children singing for the future and the past? Shall you hear the children singing, O my brothers? Shall you hear the children singing in the sunshine or the rain? There’ll be sobs beneath the ringing Of the cheers, and ’neath the singing There’ll be tears of orphan children when Our Boys come back again!
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