Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE REASONS, by ISABEL ECCLESTONE MACKAY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE REASONS, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: They sat before a dugout
Last Line: "what?"
Subject(s): Fights; Military; Patriotism; Soldiers; War


THEY sat before a dugout
In the unfamiliar quiet of silenced guns.
And one said:
"Now that it's over
What about a bit of truth?
Let us say why we came to fight—
No frills—
You first, old Fire-eater!"—

One with a whimsical face spoke freely;
"I?—I sought some stir,
Some urge in living,
Some sense in dying.
I sought a mountain top
With a view!"

"And the answer?"

"I have seen others find
What I sought."

"I don't know that it's anyone's business
Why I came,"
(Another spoke as if unwillingly),
"A girl laughed, I think—
Funny?—Yes, funny as hell!"—

His neighbor said,
"I was a business man
No sentiment,

Nothing of that kind,—
But the band played
And, suddenly, I saw
My country,
A woman, with hands outstretched,
Her back to the wall——"

"U—um," they nodded,
"She's got a pull,
That old lady."

"As for me," the speaker was abrupt,
"I was afraid!
I saw pictures,
I heard things—
I couldn't sleep
For the Beast that was abroad—
Fear!
That's what brought me!"

They sat silent for a moment
In the sun.
Then an older man said briefly,
"We were all afraid . . . . .
... But what of hate?
Did no one come because of hate?"

"Yes—I"—
They looked at this man
Curiously,
But he added nothing,
And no one questioned.

A fresh-faced boy spoke modestly;
"Our family are all Army people—
So, of course—
And it's all over now.
We got through.
But it was a near thing—
What?"





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