The Drum by John Scott
b"John Scott read by Classic Poetry Aloud:\\n http://www.classicpoetryaloud.com/\\n \\n Giving voice to the poetry of the past.\\n \\n ---------------------------------------------------\\n \\n The Drum\\n by John Scott (1731 \\u2013 1783)\\n \\n I hate that drum's discordant sound, \\n Parading round, and round, and round: \\n To thoughtless youth it pleasure yields, \\n And lures from cities and from fields, \\n To sell their liberty for charms \\n Of tawdry lace and glitt'ring arms; \\n And when Ambition's voice commands, \\n To fight and fall in foreign lands.\\n \\n I hate that drum's discordant sound, \\n Parading round, and round, and round: \\n To me it talks of ravaged plains, \\n And burning towns and ruin'd swains, \\n And mangled limbs, and dying groans, \\n And widow's tears, and orphans moans, \\n And all that Misery's hand bestows, \\n To fill a catalogue of woes.\\n \\n First aired: 17 September 2007\\n \\n For hundreds more poetry readings, visit the Classic Poetry Aloud index.\\n \\n Reading \\xa9 Classic Poetry Aloud 2008"