Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, DREAMERS, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON



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DREAMERS, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Soldiers are citizens of death's grey land
Last Line: And going to the office in the train.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


SOLDIERS are citizens of death's grey land,
Drawing no dividend from time's to-morrows.
In the great hour of destiny they stand,
Each with his feuds, and jealousies, and sorrows.
Soldiers are sworn to action; they must win
Some flaming, fatal climax with their lives.
Soldiers are dreamers; when the guns begin
They think of firelit homes, clean beds and wives.

I see them in foul dug-outs, gnawed by rats,
And in the ruined trenches, lashed with rain,
Dreaming of things they did with balls and bats,
And mocked by hopeless longing to regain
Bank-holidays, and picture shows, and spats,
And going to the office in the train.






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