Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE CAMP-FOLLOWER, by MAXWELL BODENHEIM Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: We spoke, the camp-follower and I Last Line: And I sat beside her and wondered. Subject(s): World War I; First World War | ||||||||
We spoke, the camp-follower and I. About us was a cold, pungent odor Gun-powder, stale wine, wet earth, and the smell of thousands of men. She said it reminded her of the scent In the house of prostitutes she had lived in. About us were soldiershordes of scarlet women, stupidly, smilingly giving up their bodies To a putrid-lipped, chuckling loverDeath; While their mistress in tinsel whipped them on. ... She spoke of a woman she had known in Odessa, Owner of a huge band of girls, Who had pocketed their earnings for years, Only to be used, swindled and killed by some nobleman. ... She said she thought of this grinning woman Whenever she saw an officer brought back from battle, dead. ... And I sat beside her and wondered. | 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 DEATH (1) by MAXWELL BODENHEIM |
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