Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, FAREWELL TO A LOVER, by VERA MARY BRITTAIN


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

FAREWELL TO A LOVER, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Your body was my temple
Last Line: Where ripen the bitter-sweet fruits in gethsemane's garden.
Alternate Author Name(s): Catlin, George E. G., Mrs.
Subject(s): Desire; Farewell; Love Affairs; Parting


Your body was my temple
Wherein the pitiful ghosts of the Somme and Arras
Reclothed themselves in the warm pulsating vestments
Of uncorrupted flesh;
And the life, the life of the lovely dead re-awakened
When my captive desire
Turned aside to pursue the vagrant lure of your shadow.

Your body was my sepulchre,
Wherein the complacent whiteness of glory and honour
Burned away to a heap of grey spendthrift ashes
On the ultimate altar;
But the ghosts of the War shall walk for ever
By that grave of contentment
Where ripen the bitter-sweet fruits in Gethsemane's garden.





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