For Mother Russia

Formed into their lines,

Led by lords and dandies,

Lancers, Hussars:

The Light Brigade

 

Gold and silver glisten,

as the hussars listen

to the orders from their master

 

Blue and white scream vanity,

as lancer officers,

almost devoid of their sanity,

follow their lord to battle

 

\"Follow me men, and hold the lines !\"

 

Like parade-ground machines,

the brigade advance,

not once breaking pace

Officers shout back their own men,

eager to begin the race

 

No rush for them though,

First, at the walk,

Then, at the trot,

The proud squadrons scoured by shot

 

Finally, canter into the charge !

 

In first Lord Cardigan,

In after the proud brigade,

Russian guns are silenced,

respite bought with blood and lives

 

But alas ! Behind those guns,

Lurking in the low ground,

Stands the Tsar\'s owm horse,

ten thousand men all told

 

The brigade is scattered;

their charge broken now,

With dismay they raise their heads

To hear a great, guttural cry;

 

\"For Mother Russia !\"

 

So the counter charge is led,

robbing them of any victory,

forced past the horseless dead,

back, back, back to their start

 

Vanity, Insanity, all led to this;

600 did charge, les than half did survive,

The glorious charge of the Light Brigade.

~ Joyce