Classic and Contemporary Poetry
BATTALION IN REST, by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Some found an owl's nest in the hollow skull Last Line: Where stars new trembled with delight's design. Alternate Author Name(s): Blunden, Edmund Subject(s): World War I; First World War | ||||||||
SOME found an owl's nest in the hollow skull Of the first pollard from the malthouse wall; Some hurried through the swarming sedge About the ballast-pond's bright edge, And flashed through sunny deeps like boys from school; All was discovery, love and laughter all. The girls along the dykes of those moist miles Went on raft boats to take their cows afield, And eyes from many an English farm Saw and owned the mode had charm; One well might mark the silence and the smiles; With such sweet balms, our wounds must soon be healed. The jovial sun sprang up as bright each day As fancy's sun could be, and climbed, heaven's youth, To make the marching mornings cheat Still-hectoring Mars of his receipt -- Who cannot hear the songs that led the way, See the trim companies with their eyes on truth? At evening, by the lonely white-walled house, Where Que-C'est-Drole and Mon-Dieu stole to glance, One bold platoon all turned to players With masquerade and strumming airs; The short clown darted nimble as a mouse, The tambourine tapped out the stiff-stepped dance. A shadowed corner suddenly found voice As in the dusk I passed; it bade me stay. The bottle to my lips was raised -- God help us, Serjeant, I was mazed By that sharp fire your wine -- but I rejoice! Could I but meet you again at the end o' the day! Not seldom, soft by meadows deep in dew, Another lit my soul with his calm shine. There were cadences and whispers In his ways that made my vespers -- A night-piece fitting well that temple blue Where stars new trembled with delight's design. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...D'ANNUNZIO by ERNEST HEMINGWAY 1915: THE TRENCHES by CONRAD AIKEN TO OUR PRESIDENT by KATHARINE LEE BATES THE HORSES by KATHARINE LEE BATES CHILDREN OF THE WAR by KATHARINE LEE BATES THE U-BOAT CREWS by KATHARINE LEE BATES THE RED CROSS NURSE by KATHARINE LEE BATES WAR PROFITS by KATHARINE LEE BATES THE UNCHANGEABLE by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN ALMSWOMEN by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN |
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