Half a league, half a league,
Half a league onward,
All on the edge of Twilight Gap,
Traversed the many Guardians.
"Forward the Twilight Brigade!"
"Charge for the pikes!" he said:
Into Twilight Gap,
Traversed the many Guardians.
"Forward the Twilight Brigade!"
Was there a Hunter dismayed it?
Not though the Guardian knew
Someone had blundered:
Theirs not to make reply,
Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs but to do and die (again):
Into Twilight Gap,
Rode the many Guardians.
Skiff to the right of them,
Skiff to the left of them,
Skiff in front of them,
Volleyed and thundered:
Stormed at shot and shell,
Boldly they charged and well,
Into the gate of the Ketch,
Into the hands of the Kell,
Charged the many Guardians.
Flashed all their knives bare,
Flashed as they turned in air,
Stabbing the Fallen there,
Charging an army, while
The Last City wondered:
Plunged in the Nightstalker smoke,
Right thorough the line they broke;
Devils and Kings
Reeled from the Sparrows,
Shattered and sundered,
They were drove back, but
Not the brave Guardians.
Skiff to the right of them,
Skiff to the left of them,
Skiff behind them
Volleyed and thundered,
Stormed at with shot and shell,
While Titan and Warlock fell,
They that had fought so well,
Came thorough the Gate of the Ketch,
Back from the hands of the Kell,
All that was left of them,
The brave, diligent Guardians.
When can their glory fade?
O the wild charge they made!
The Last City wondered.
Honor the charge they made,
Honor the Twilight Brigade,
The noble Guardians.