Category Archives: wwi poetry

Charles Sorley, "When you see millions of the mouthless dead"

Posted on July 24, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

When you see millions of the mouthless dead Across your dreams in pale battalions go, Say not soft things as other men have said, That you’ll remember. For you need not so. Give them not praise. For, deaf, how should … Continue reading →

Posted in sorley, wwi poetry | Comments Off on Charles Sorley, "When you see millions of the mouthless dead"

Charles Sorley, "To Germany"

Posted on July 18, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

To Germany You are blind like us. Your hurt no man designed,And no man claimed the conquest of your land.But gropers both through fields of thought confinedWe stumble and we do not understand.You only saw your future bigly planned,And we, … Continue reading →

Posted in sorley, wwi poetry | Comments Off on Charles Sorley, "To Germany"

Charles Sorley, "Such, Such Is Death"

Posted on July 17, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

Such, Such Is Death Such, such is Death: no triumph: no defeat:Only an empty pail, a slate rubbed clean,A merciful putting away of what has been. And this we know: Death is not Life, effete,Life crushed, the broken pail. We … Continue reading →

Posted in sorley, wwi poetry | Comments Off on Charles Sorley, "Such, Such Is Death"

Charles Sorley, "A Letter From the Trenches to a School Friend"

Posted on July 11, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

A Letter From the Trenches to a School Friend I have not brought my OdysseyWith me here across the sea;But you’ll remember, when I sayHow, when they went down Sparta way,To sandy Sparta, long ere dawnHorses were harnessed, rations drawn,Equipment … Continue reading →

Posted in sorley, wwi poetry | Comments Off on Charles Sorley, "A Letter From the Trenches to a School Friend"

Robert Graves, "A Dead Boche"

Posted on July 3, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

A Dead BocheTo you who’d read my songs of War And only hear of blood and fame, I’ll say (you’ve heard it said before) “War’s Hell!” and if you doubt the same, Today I found in Mametz Wood A certain … Continue reading →

Posted in graves, wwi poetry | Comments Off on Robert Graves, "A Dead Boche"

Siegfried Sassoon, "Lamentations"

Posted on June 27, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

Lamentations I found him in the guard-room at the Base.From the blind darkness I had heard his cryingAnd blundered in. With puzzled, patient faceA sergeant watched him; it was no good trying To stop it; for he howled and beat … Continue reading →

Posted in sassoon, wwi poetry | Comments Off on Siegfried Sassoon, "Lamentations"

"The End," Wilfred Owen

Posted on June 26, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

The End After the blast of lightning from the east, The flourish of loud clouds, the Chariot Throne; After the drums of time have rolled and ceased, And by the bronze west long retreat is blown, Shall Life renew these … Continue reading →

Posted in owen, wwi poetry | Comments Off on "The End," Wilfred Owen

Edgell Rickword, "Trench Poets"

Posted on June 20, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

Trench Poets I knew a man, he was my chum,but he grew blacker every day,and would not brush the flies away,nor blanch however fierce the humof passing shells; I used to read,to rouse him, random things from Donne– Like “Get … Continue reading →

Posted in rickword, wwi poetry | Comments Off on Edgell Rickword, "Trench Poets"

Isaac Rosenberg, "Dead Man’s Dump"

Posted on June 13, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

Dead Man’s Dump The plunging limbers over the shattered trackRacketed with their rusty freight,Stuck out like many crowns of thorns,And the rusty stakes like sceptres oldTo stay the flood of brutish menUpon our brothers dear. The wheels lurched over sprawled … Continue reading →

Posted in rosenberg, wwi poetry | Comments Off on Isaac Rosenberg, "Dead Man’s Dump"

"Strange Meeting," Wilfred Owen

Posted on June 12, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

Strange Meeting It seemed that out of battle I escapedDown some profound dull tunnel, long since scoopedThrough granites which titanic wars had groined.Yet also there encumbered sleepers groaned,Too fast in thought or death to be bestirred.Then, as I probed them, … Continue reading →

Posted in owen, wwi poetry | Comments Off on "Strange Meeting," Wilfred Owen