Tag Archives: edmund blunden

Preparations For Victory My soul, dread not the pestilence that hags The valley; flinch not you, my body young. At these great shouting smokes and snarling jags Of fiery iron; as yet may not be flung The dice that claims … Continue reading →

The Zonnebeke Road Morning, if this late withered light can claim Some kindred with that merry flame Which the young day was wont to fling through space! Agony stares from each grey face. And yet the day is come; stand … Continue reading →

After The Bombing My hesitant design it was, in a time when no man feared,To make a poem on the last poor flower to have grown on the patch of landWhere since a gray enormous stack of shops and offices … Continue reading →

Vlamertinghe: Passing the Chateau And all her silken flanks with garlands drest– But we are coming to the sacrifice. Must those flowers who are not yet gone West? May those flowers who live with death and lice? This must be … Continue reading →

Report on Experience I have been young, and now am not too old;And I have seen the righteous forsaken,His health, his honour and his quality taken.This is not what we were formerly told. I have seen a green country, useful … Continue reading →

1916 Seen From 1921 Tired with dull grief, grown old before my day,I sit in solitude and only hearLong silent laughters, murmurings of dismay,The lost intensities of hope and fear;In those old marshes yet the rifles lie,On the thin breastwork … Continue reading →

Premature Rejoicing What’s that over there? Thiepval Wood. Take a steady look at it; it’ll do you good.Here, these glasses will help you. See any flowers?There sleeps Titania (correct–the Wood is ours);There sleeps Titania in a deep dugout,Waking, she wonders … Continue reading →

Thiepval Wood The tired air groans as the heavies swing over, the river-hollows boom;The shell-fountains leap from the swamps, and with wildfire and fumeThe shoulder of the chalkdown convulses.Then the jabbering echoes stampede in the slatting wood,Ember-black the gibbet trees … Continue reading →

Concert Party: Busseboom The stage was set, the house was packed,The famous troop began;Our laughter thundered, act by act;Time light as sunbeams ran. Dance sprang and spun and neared and fled,Jest chirped at gayest pitch,Rhythm dazzled, action spedMost comically rich. … Continue reading →