The Bells of Malines + 

August 17, 1914 + 

The gabled roofs of old Malines + 

Are russet red and gray and green, + 

And o’er them in the sunset hour + 

Looms, dark and huge, St. Rombold’s tower. + 

High in that rugged nest concealed, + 

The sweetest bells that ever pealed, + 

The deepest bells that ever rung, + 

The lightest bells that ever sung, + 

Are waiting for the master’s hand + 

To fling their music o’er the land. + 

And shall they ring to-night, Malines? + 

In nineteen hundred and fourteen, + 

The frightful year, the year of woe, + 

When fire and blood and rapine flow + 

Across the land from lost Liège, + 

Storm-driven by the German rage? + 

The other carillons have ceased: + 

Fallen is Hasselt, fallen Diest, + 

From Ghent and Bruges no voices come, + 

Antwerp is silent, Brussels dumb! + 

But in thy belfry, O Malines, + 

The master of the bells unseen + 

Has climbed to where the keyboard stands⁠— + 

To-night his heart is in his hands! + 

Once more, before invasion’s hell + 

Breaks round the tower he loves so well, + 

Once more he strikes the well-worn keys, + 

And sends aerial harmonies + 

Far-floating through the twilight dim + 

In patriot song and holy hymn. + 

O listen, burghers of Malines! + 

Soldier and workman, pale bèguine, + 

And mother with a trembling flock + 

Of children clinging to thy frock⁠— + 

Look up and listen, listen all! + 

What tunes are these that gently fall + 

Around you like a benison? + 

“The Flemish Lion,” “Brabançonne,” + 

“O brave Liége,” and all the airs + 

That Belgium in her bosom bears. + 

Ring up, ye silvery octaves high, + 

Whose notes like circling swallows fly; + 

And ring, each old sonorous bell⁠— + 

“Jesu,” “Maria,” “Michaël!” + 

Weave in and out, and high and low, + 

The magic music that you know, + 

And let it float and flutter down + 

To cheer the heart of the troubled town. + 

Ring out, “Salvator,” lord of all⁠— + 

“Roland” in Ghent may hear thee call! + 

O brave bell-music of Malines, + 

In this dark hour how much you mean! + 

The dreadful night of blood and tears + 

Sweeps down on Belgium, but she hears + 

Deep in her heart the melody + 

Of songs she learned when she was free. + 

She will not falter, faint, nor fail, + 

But fight until her rights prevail + 

And all her ancient belfries ring + 

“The Flemish Lion,” “God Save the King!” + 