Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE SOLDIER SPEAKS, by JOHN GALSWORTHY Poet's Biography First Line: If courage thrives on reeking slaughter Last Line: We have gone down to fight! Alternate Author Name(s): Sinjohn, John Subject(s): Soldiers; World War I; First World War | ||||||||
IF courage thrives on reeking slaughter, And he who kills is lord Of beauty and of loving laughter Gird on me a sword! If death be dearest comrade proven, If life be coward's mate, If Nazareth of dreams be woven Give me fighter's fate! If God be thrilled by a battle cry, If He can bless the moaning fight, If when the trampling charge goes by God Himself is the leading Knight; If God laughs when the gun thunders, If He yells when the bullet sings Then my stoic soul but wonders How great God can do such things! The white gulls wheeling over the plough, The sun, the reddening trees We being enemies, I and thou, There is no meaning to these. There is no flight on the wings of Spring, No scent in the summer rose; The roundelays that the blackbirds sing There is no meaning in those! If you must kill mewhy the lark, The hawthorn bud, and the corn? Why do the stars bedew the dark? Why is the blossom born? If I must kill youwhy the kiss Which made you? There is no why! If it be true we were born for this Pitiful Love, Goodbye! Not for the God of battles! For Honour, Freedom and Right, And saving of gentle Beauty, We have gone down to fight! | 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 |
|