Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, GRAND-PERE, by ROBERT WILLIAM SERVICE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

GRAND-PERE, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: And so when he reached my bed
Last Line: Twas grand-pere joffre.
Subject(s): War; World War I; First World War


AND so when he reached my bed
The General made a stand:
"My brave young fellow," he said,
"I would shake your hand."

So I lifted my arm, the right,
With never a hand at all;
Only a stump, a sight
Fit to appal.

"Well, well. Now that's too bad!
That's sorrowful luck," he said;
"But there! You give me, my lad,
The left instead."

So from under the blanket's rim
I raised and showed him the other,
A snag as ugly and grim
As its ugly brother.

He looked at each jagged wrist;
He looked, but he did not speak;
And then he bent down and kissed
Me on either cheek.

You wonder now I don't mind
I hadn't a hand to offer. . . .
They tell me (you know I'm blind)
'Twas Grand-pere Joffre.





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