Classic and Contemporary Poetry
FRAGMENT, by RUPERT BROOKE Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: I strayed about the deck, an hour, tonight Last Line: To other ghosts - this one, or that, or I. Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War | ||||||||
I strayed about the deck, an hour, tonight Under a cloudy moonless sky; and peeped In at the windows, watched my friends at table, Or playing cards, or standing in the doorway, Or coming out into darkness. Still No one could see me. I would have thought of them -- Heedless, within a week of battle - in pity, Pride in their strength and in the weight and firmness And link'd beauty of bodies, and pity that This gay machine of splendour 'ld soon be broken, Thought little of, pashed, scattered . . . Only, always, I could but see them - against the lamplight - pass Like coloured shadows, thinner than flimsy glass, Slight bubbles, fainter than the wave's faint light, That broke to phosphorous out in the night, Perishing things and strange ghosts - soon to die To other ghosts - this one, or that, or I. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...D'ANNUNZIO by ERNEST HEMINGWAY 1915: THE TRENCHES by CONRAD AIKEN TO OUR PRESIDENT by KATHARINE LEE BATES THE HORSES by KATHARINE LEE BATES CHILDREN OF THE WAR by KATHARINE LEE BATES THE U-BOAT CREWS by KATHARINE LEE BATES THE RED CROSS NURSE by KATHARINE LEE BATES WAR PROFITS by KATHARINE LEE BATES THE UNCHANGEABLE by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN 1914: 1. PEACE by RUPERT BROOKE |
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