You can see it in the city, when the crowds go slowly by,
You can read it in the stern-set mouth, the calm, defiant eye;
O'er half a world has come to us a message from the foe --
"Oh! not to Victory, but Death your gallant sons shall go."
Do we fear? We who have wrestled with the drought and flood so long,
No! We answer with defiance, and this is our battle song
"We are fighting with the Heart, and not only with the Hand;
We are fighting for the glory of our dear old motherland.
Do you think there's one among you,
One among your stubborn Dutch,
Who has gauged the strength of Britain
When you doubt the power of such?
Oh! laugh among your stony hills,
And triumph while you may,
We can hear you call for mercy,
At the closing of the day!"
Australian women send to you, this answer o'er the sea
"From the dark page where you write 'Death' we still spell 'Victory'!"
First published in The Brisbane Courier, 17 February 1900
