Category Archives: sassoon

Twelve Months After Hullo! here’s my platoon, the lot I had last year. ‘The war’ll be over soon.’              ‘What ‘opes?’                      ‘No bloody fear!’Then, ‘Number Seven, ‘shun! All present and correct.’They’re standing in the sun, impassive and erect.Young Gibson with his grin; and … Continue reading →

The Effect ‘The effect of our bombardment was terrific. One man told me he had never seen so many dead before.’ –War Correspondent. ‘He’d never seen so many dead before.’ They sprawled in yellow daylight while he swore And gasped … Continue reading →

The Dream IMoonlight and dew-drenched blossom, and the scentOf summer gardens; these can bring you allThose dreams that in the starlit silence fall:Sweet songs are full of odours.While I wentLast night in drizzling dusk along a lane,I passed a squalid … Continue reading →

Base Details If I were fierce, and bald, and short of breath,I’d live with scarlet Majors at the Base,And speed glum heroes up the line to death.You’d see me with my puffy petulant face,Guzzling and gulping in the best hotel,Reading … Continue reading →

Banishment I am banished from the patient men who fightThey smote my heart to pity, built my pride.Shoulder to aching shoulder, side by side,They trudged away from life’s broad wealds of light.Their wrongs were mine; and ever in my sightThey … Continue reading →

Autumn October’s bellowing anger breaks and cleavesThe bronzed battalions of the stricken woodIn whose lament I hear a voice that grievesFor battle’s fruitless harvest, and the feudOf outraged men. Their lives are like the leavesScattered in flocks of ruin, tossed … Continue reading →

Dead Musicians IFrom you, Beethoven, Bach, Mozart,The substance of my dreams took fire.You built cathedrals in my heart,And lit my pinnacled desire.You were the ardour and the brightProcession of my thoughts toward prayer.You were the wrath of storm, the lightOn … Continue reading →

The Investiture God with a Roll of Honour in His handSits welcoming the heroes who have died,While sorrowless angels ranked on either sideStand easy in Elysium’s meadow-land.Then you come shyly through the garden gate,Wearing a blood-soaked bandage on your head;And … Continue reading →

Dreamers Soldiers are citizens of death’s grey land,Drawing no dividend from time’s to-morrows.In the great hour of destiny they stand,Each with his feuds, and jealousies, and sorrows.Soldiers are sworn to action; they must winSome flaming, fatal climax with their lives.Soldiers … Continue reading →

Does it Matter? Does it matter?–losing your legs?…For people will always be kind,And you need not show that you mindWhen the others come in after huntingTo gobble their muffins and eggs. Does it matter?–losing your sight?…There’s such splendid work for … Continue reading →