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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
WARNING TO TROOPS, by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN Poet Analysis Poet's Biography
First Line: What soldier guessed that where the stream descended
Last Line: Lest perilous silence gnaw thee evermore.
Alternate Author Name(s): Blunden, Edmund
Subject(s): Soldiers
First Line: What soldier guessed that where the stream descended
Last Line: Lest perilous silence gnaw thee evermore.
Alternate Author Name(s): Blunden, Edmund
Subject(s): Soldiers
What soldier guessed that where the stream descended
In country dance beneath the colonnade
Of elms which cooled the halted troop, it played
Sly music, barely noted, never ended?
Or who, from war's concerns a moment missed,
At some church door turned white as came to him
One gold note struck by the hidden organist,
One note long-drawn through caverns cool and dim?
O marcher, hear. But when thy route and tramp
Pause by some falling stream, or holy door,
Be the deaf adder; bear not back to camp
That embryo music. Double not thy war.
Shun all such sweet preclusion. March, sing, roar,
Lest perilous silence gnaw thee evermore.
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