Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE LIARS by NATHALIA CRANE

First Line: WE WERE THE CASTANET UNITS
Last Line: WE ARE THE LIARS FROM FRANCE.
Subject(s): WORLD WAR I; FIRST WORLD WAR;

We were the castanet units
Nicked in the Zone of Advance,
We were the shameless survivals,
We were the liars from France.

Gunners who tripped o'er the tripods,
Casualties dug from a cave,
Buddies arrayed in the bandage,
Groomed for a grenadier's grave.

We were the prides of the litters
Lacking in only a knell,
Hearing the field station mutter:
"This one will never get well."

Some of us got compensation --
All of the half of a year;
Some of us got observation
Over refusals to cheer.

Still, there are times we are happy
Soothed by this one circumstance --
We can talk Front Line with Black Jack,
We are the liars from France.



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