Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, HUGH SELWYN MAUBERLEY: 4, by EZRA POUND


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

HUGH SELWYN MAUBERLEY: 4, by         Recitation by Author         Poet's Biography
First Line: These fought in any case
Last Line: Laughter out of dead bellies.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


These fought in any case
and some believing,
pro domo, in any case . . .

Some quick to arm,
some for adventure,
some from fear of weakness,
some from fear of censure,
some for love of slaughter, in imagination,
learning later. . .
some in fear, learning love of slaughter;

Died some, pro patria,
non "dulce" non "et decor" . . .
walked eye-deep in hell
believing in old men's lies, then unbelieving
came home, home to a lie
home to many deceits,
home to old lies and new infamy;
usury age-old and age-thick
and liars in public places.

Daring as never before, wastage as never before.
Young blood and high blood,
fair cheeks, and fine bodies;
fortitude as never before

frankness as never before,
disillusions as never told in the old days,
hysterias, trench confessions,
laughter out of dead bellies.





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