Classic and Contemporary Poetry
A SUBALTERN, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: He turned to me with his kind, sleepy gaze Last Line: Wondering 'why he always talked such tripe'. Subject(s): Soldiers; Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War | ||||||||
HE turned to me with his kind, sleepy gaze And fresh face slowly brightening to the grin That sets my memory back to summer days, With twenty runs to make, and last man in. He told me he'd been having a bloody time In trenches, crouching for the crumps to burst, While squeaking rats scampered across the slime And the grey palsied weather did its worst. But as he stamped and shivered in the rain, My stale philosophies had served him well; Dreaming about his girl had sent his brain Blanker than ever -- she'd no place in Hell.... 'Good God!' he laughed, and slowly filled his pipe, Wondering 'why he always talked such tripe'. | 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 |
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