The Years Between Part 12

Body and Spirit I surrendered whole To harsh Instructors--and received a soul ...

If mortal man could change me through and through From all I was--what may The G.o.d not do?

HINDU SEPOY IN FRANCE

This man in his own country prayed we know not to what Powers.

We pray Them to reward him for his bravery in ours.

THE COWARD

I could not look on Death, which being known, Men led me to him, blindfold and alone.

SHOCK

My name, my speech, my self I had forgot.

My wife and children came--I knew them not.

I died. My Mother followed. At her call And on her bosom I remembered all.

A GRAVE NEAR CAIRO

G.o.ds of the Nile, should this stout fellow here Get out--get out! He knows not shame nor fear.

PELICANS IN THE WILDERNESS

(A GRAVE NEAR HALFA)

The blown sand heaps on me, that none may learn Where I am laid for whom my children grieve....

O wings that beat at dawning, ye return Out of the desert to your young at eve!

THE FAVOUR

Death favoured me from the first, well knowing I could not endure To wait on him day by day. He quitted my betters and came Whistling over the fields, and, when he had made all sure, 'Thy line is at end,' he said, 'but at least I have saved its name.'

THE BEGINNER

On the first hour of my first day In the front trench I fell.

(Children in boxes at a play Stand up to watch it well.)

R. A. F. (AGED EIGHTEEN)

Laughing through clouds, his milk-teeth still unshed, Cities and men he smote from overhead.

His deaths delivered, he returned to play Childlike, with childish things now put away.

THE REFINED MAN

I was of delicate mind. I went aside for my needs, Disdaining the common office. I was seen from afar and killed....

How is this matter for mirth? Let each man be judged by his deeds _I have paid my price to live with myself on the terms that I willed._

NATIVE WATER-CARRIER (M. E. F.)

Prometheus brought down fire to men.

This brought up water.

The G.o.ds are jealous--now, as then, They gave no quarter.

BOMBED IN LONDON

On land and sea I strove with anxious care To escape conscription. It was in the air!

THE SLEEPY SENTINEL

Faithless the watch that I kept: now I have none to keep.

I was slain because I slept: now I am slain I sleep.

Let no man reproach me again, whatever watch is unkept-- I sleep because I am slain. They slew me because I slept.

BATTERIES OUT OF AMMUNITION

If any mourn us in the workshop, say We died because the s.h.i.+ft kept holiday.

COMMON FORM

If any question why we died, Tell them, because our fathers lied.

A DEAD STATESMAN

I could not dig; I dared not rob: Therefore I lied to please the mob.

Now all my lies are proved untrue, And I must face the men I slew.

What tale shall save me here among Mine angry and defrauded young?

THE REBEL

If I had clamoured at Thy Gate For gift of Life on Earth, And, thrusting through the souls that wait, Flung headlong into birth-- Even then, even then, for gin and snare About my pathway spread, Lord, I had mocked Thy thoughtful care Before I joined the Dead!

But now?... I was beneath Thy Hand Ere yet the Planets came.

And now--though Planets pa.s.s, I stand The witness to Thy Shame.