Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


ARMISTICE DAY by JOHN FREEMAN

First Line: BIRDS STAYED NOT THEIR SINGING
Last Line: A DEEPER BREATH THAN PASSION KNEW.
Subject(s): DEATH; LIFE; TIME; DEAD, THE;

BIRDS stayed not their singing,
The heart its beating,
The blood its steady coursing.
The child in the dark womb
Stirred; dust settled in the tomb.

Old wounds were still smarting,
Echoes were hollow-sounding,
New desires still upspringing.
No silent Armistice might stay
Life and Death wrangling in the old way.

Earth's pulse still was beating,
The bright stars circling;
Only our tongues were hushing.
While Time ticked silent on, men drew
A deeper breath than passion knew.



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