Classic and Contemporary Poetry
HERE IS MUSIC: FIRE GUARD AREA OFFICER: 2, by AUSTIN PHILIPS First Line: For full three years Last Line: Obey blest beckonings till I draw last hungry breath. Subject(s): Courage; Fights; Firefighters; Memory; War; Valor; Bravery | ||||||||
FOR full three years, Dear friend, I have not known One single hour Of sweet, deep, intimate sleep but e'er have lain Waiting the coming Cain, With anxious ears Attun'd to hear Ill-omen'd, drear And odious outpour Of Banshee moan, Of harsh, insistent wail, Borne on soft air, harsh gale, Shriek of sad Siren, calling me to leap Forth from my couch and go, A-creep, 'Neath wall and portico, 'Mid boom of gun, 'mid shrapnel's hateful hail, Up half-a-mile of Hell To tell My coming, then begin My rounds, until the din Lessen, die down, the fell Danger decline ... the long up-gazing with strain'd eyes At smiling, callous moon, cold stars or shrouded skies. For three full years I have served, found fearful fief In hateful sight Of human woe, of silent suffering Or loud, heart-issuing Lament, found fears Hideously true, Heard Rachel's rue Divide the night As, wild with grief For offspring ruthless swept Away, she ranged, raved, wept. ... Seen father seek for son in nameless pain Or son for father, both In vain Yet staunchly, nobly loth To recognise harsh truthpersistent steep'd In fierce and futile hope Woe's cup Pushed from brave lips by long And gallant effort, strong, Determined aim to dupe Despair ... until force fail, reaction conquer, come, Strength ebb, and full assurance find them faint and dumb. For three full years Snippets of sleep thus mine! I toiled and moiled Unceasing ... now, when at long last the sum And end seemed nigh, new bomb Brings further tears, Reaps fresh foison, With deadly drone Speeds on in shine And shade, accoiled And eager, while its twin In crime, with hideous din Rockets and wracks, destroys by night, by day, (Hate's evil-omen'd bird!) Wing'd way Takes through thin air, be-spurr'd By envy, born of malice, sired by sin, So that, still starv'd of sleep, I leap, (Almost automaton!) Forth from my couch, fling on Garments again, go reap Sadness once more, set out on service, fearful fief Find as of old, stark surfeit ... glut me with fresh grief. That vast reserve Of force and energy, Built and stored up Since boyhood's hour by one who found the font Of strength in use and wont Of sleep, who verve And wit at prime (Nay, long ere dawning-time!) Drew as from cup In affluency, Each morn refreshed, renewed Magician-wise, who subdued Hoursharbingers and heralds of high noon To his proud purpose, made Blest, boon Sunshine alike and shade. ... That vast reserve, I say, that parenthood Of all I cared for, shrunk And sunk To nothing seems ... since Fear Ful-fills me; in mine ear Whispers, fell hag, foul punk, That I am spent and finished as a fighting man Unless I find, and touch, for sleep some talisman. Some talisman! Thrice happy, helpful thought Which glads my heart And brings me courage, wakes old memories Of how I once won ease What time, long span, 'Twas mine to dwell In high tourelle, Lone and apart, And, strenuous, wrought In royal Brittany At books about to be. ... Of how, a long work ponder'd, plann'd, despatched, Reaction came ... and so I watched With anxious eyes, bent brow, Each time the postman calledlest I should see My wretched, would-be tome Come home, Unwanted and accurst. ... To break, bar, burst Such quintessential sum Of neurasthenic foolishness, quick anodyne I sought and found ... alike o'er-mastering and benign. If still a-foot When the last bugle blows Its noble news, I will go back to Brittany, there dwell Once more in my tourelle, Seek ancient loot, And eager hie Me forth, to buy Red wine, whose use Kills care and throws Oblivion's veil O'er grief, brings weal. ... It shall be August month, hot afternoon, I'll get me crusted bread, ripe camembert; In boon Seclusion feast, repair, Bacchic, to bed; find dreamless slumber seal My grateful eyelids, take Fill, slake Her needs till midnight hour Exhaust that potion's pow'r, Find me fresh man, most gloriously awake, Know me clear-brained as never, bid me in haste go heat My bedside coffee, muse, plan, ponder, drink and eat. Ten daysno more I will do this, re-try Experience Tested long since, found true and trusty friend, Then take farewell, make end As once afore. ... Assuaged all need, (Tenour and thread Regained, and sense Of Rest) will hie Me home, in haste to hurl Me into fresh tasks, unfurl Again stout sails to bear Life's venturous bark Of true, original course, The stark War-years forgot, (fresh force Nurtured natheless within them, like some pearl Long time foredoomed in shell To dwell. ...) Stand still a seeker, steer Steadfast; persist, not veer One hand's breadth; lured and limed by ancient spell, Sweet lust for knowledge; speeding down towards dusty death, Obey blest beckonings till I draw last hungry breath. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...UNLESS IT WAS COURAGE by MARVIN BELL THE QUALITY OF COURAGE by STEPHEN VINCENT BENET ON THE OREGON COAST; FOR WILLIAM STAFFORD by ROBERT BLY WORDS WITH WALLACE STEVENS by ROBERT BLY BUFFALO CLOUDS OVER THE MAESTRO HOON by NORMAN DUBIE A SONG OF COURAGE by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON THE AUDACIOUS by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON OH, THE WATER by DORIANNE LAUX A BALLADE OF GREEN FIELDS; FOR F.W.M. by AUSTIN PHILIPS |
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