Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE SOLDIERS OF THE DUSK, by FENTON JOHNSON Poet's Biography First Line: Black men holding up the earth Last Line: Victims of the war god's lust. Subject(s): African Americans - Military; World War I; First World War | ||||||||
Black men holding up the earth, Atlas burdened they descend Deep into the vale of Hell; And with valor long defend Fairer brothers from the wounds That the dogs of war inflict, And with patriotic souls Die in Europe's last conflict. Paris shall not fall so long As there breathes a man of dusk, London shall be saved an age By the fighters of the dusk; Zulu, robbed of land and home, For the robber bares his heart, Kaffir, giving Europe gems, Europe pierces with a dart. They are pagan, men of blood, They have not a golden rule, Cannibals and fetish men With their laws intensely cruel; But the God of Calvary Will in years unborn be just To the men who died for men, Victims of the war god's lust. | 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 |
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