The Song of the Bow

What of the bow?
The bow was made in England:
Of true wood, of yew wood,
The wood of English bows;
So men who are free
Love the old yew tree
And the land where the yew tree grows.

What of the cord?
The cord was made in England:
A rough cord, a tough cord,
A cord that bowmen love;
So we'll drain our jacks
To the English flax
And the land where the hemp was wove.

What of the shaft?
The shaft was cut in England:
A long shaft, a strong shaft,
Barbed and trim and true;
So we'll all drink together
To the gray goose feather
And the land where the gray goose flew.

What of the men?
The men were bred in England:
The bowman - the yeoman -
The lads of dale and fell;
Here's to you - and to you!
To the hearts that are true
And the land where the true hearts dwell.


Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
From "The White Company"