Suicide in Trenches by Siegfried Sassoon I knew a simple soldier boy Who grinned at life in empty joy, Slept soundly through the lonesome dark, And whistled early with the lark. In winter trenches, cowed and glum With crumps and lice and lack of rum, He put a bullet through his brain. No one spoke […]
War Poems
A Last Moment Caught by Tom Sheehan
Sheehan, in his 91st year, served in 31st Infantry, Korea 1951-52, graduated Boston College 1956, has published 32 books, multiple works in Rosebud, Literally Stories, Linnet’s Wings, Copperfield Review, Eastlit, Frontier Tales,
The Warrior by John McCrae
The Warrior by John McCrae He wrought in poverty, the dull grey days, But with the night his little lamp-lit room Was bright with battle flame, or through a haze Of smoke that stung his eyes he heard the boom Of Bluecher’s guns; he shared Almeida’s scars, And from the close-packed deck, about to die, […]
Exposure by Wilfred Owen
Exposure by Wilfred Owen I Our brains ache, in the merciless iced east winds that knife us . . . Wearied we keep awake because the night is silent . . . Low drooping flares confuse our memory of the salient . . . Worried by silence, sentries whisper, curious, nervous, But nothing happens. Watching, […]
In Flanders Fields by John McCrae
In Flanders Fields by John McCrae In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were […]
The Send-off by Wilfred Owen
The Send-off by Wilfred Owen Down the close, darkening lanes they sang their way To the siding-shed, And lined the train with faces grimly gay. Their breasts were stuck all white with wreath and spray As men’s are, dead. Dull porters watched them, and a casual tramp Stood staring hard, Sorry to miss them from […]
Wild with all Regrets by Wilfred Owen
Wild with all Regrets by Wilfred Owen (Another version of “A Terre”.) To Siegfried Sassoon ? My arms have mutinied against me?brutes! My fingers fidget like ten idle brats, My back’s been stiff for hours, damned hours. Death never gives his squad a Stand-at-ease. I can’t read. There: it’s no use. Take your book. A […]
Anthem for Doomed Youth by Wilfred Owen
Anthem for Doomed Youth by Wilfred Owen What passing-bells for these who die as cattle? Only the monstrous anger of the guns. Only the stuttering rifles’ rapid rattle Can patter out their hasty orisons. No mockeries for them; no prayers nor bells, Nor any voice of mourning save the choirs,? The shrill, demented choirs of […]
A REBEL by John Gould Fletcher
A REBEL by John Gould Fletcher (1886-1950) Tie a bandage over his eyes, And at his feet Let rifles drearily patter Their death-prayers of defeat. Throw a blanket over his body, It need no longer stir; Truth will but stand the stronger For all who died for her. Now he has broken through To his […]
Mental Cases by Wilfred Owen
Wilfred Owen was born at Oswestry on 18th March 1893
The Soldier’s Wife by Robert Southey
Robert Southey (1774-1843) The Soldier’s Wife by Robert Southey Weary way-wanderer languid and sick at heart Travelling painfully over the rugged road, Wild-visag’d Wanderer! ah for thy heavy chance! Sorely thy little one drags by thee bare-footed, Cold is the baby that hangs at thy bending back Meagre and livid and screaming its wretchedness. Woe-begone […]
The Windhover: To Christ Our Lord by Gerard Manley Hopkins
Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844-1889)
Dulce Et Decorum Est–Wilfred Owen
Wilfred Owen was born at Oswestry on 18th March 1893
A month before his death he wrote to his mother: “My nerves are in perfect order. I came out again in order to help these boys; directly, by leading them as well as an officer can; indirectly, by watching their sufferings that I may speak of them as well as a pleader can.” Let his own words be his epitaph:?
“Courage was mine, and I had mystery;
Wisdom was mine, and I had mastery.”
~Siegfried Sassoon
Dreamers by Siegfried Sassoon
Siegfried Sassoon was a British poet born Sept. 8, 1886. He died in 1967. Sassoon was served in World War I.