Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


1914-1918: THE DEAD SPEAK by JOHN DRINKWATER

Poem Explanation Poet Analysis

First Line: IN THE EARTH, IN THE SEAS, WE REMEMBER
Last Line: THAT WE MAY NOT FORGIVE?
Subject(s): WORLD WAR I; FIRST WORLD WAR;

IN the earth, in the seas, we remember;
We dead, we are awake;
But bitterness we know not
Who died for beauty's sake;
We have no need of honour,
No quarrel we recall,
The lies, the little angers --
We have forgiven all.

In the earth, in the seas, we remember;
We dead, a myriad name;
But not among our legions
Is any word of blame;
We gave, and there an ending
Of covenants gone by,
We ask no funeral splendour
Who were content to die.

In the earth, in the seas, we remember;
We dead, your length of days;
But still the stealth of darkness
Makes one of all delays --
A year, or ten, or twenty,
How little then the cost --
Fear not, we have forgiven
The little years we lost.

In the earth, in the seas, we remember:
We dead, your daily debt;
The old heartbreak is over,
But we remember yet --
Is earth a sweeter temple
Because we let you live?
Or do you still betray us,
That we may not forgive?



Home: PoetryExplorer.net