Such pain men knew before he came to them They gnawed their flesh to still their startled moan And fought beyond their mind for stratagem To still the howling at the flesh and bone. He came and saw the writhing of men's flesh And, in compassion, found his way to serve, Within the sleep he gave men need not thresh Against this pain with its sharp, horrid curve. Now he has gone and we forget his name, We take for granted his rare gift of sleep; We need but breathe, allow our throat to claim A calm that all the sobbing flesh may keep. He cut the hours of agony away, Gave holy, peaceful sleep when pain would prey. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...FAIRY TALE by KATHERINE MANSFIELD A LITTLE BOY'S DREAM by KATHERINE MANSFIELD CONTRA MORTEM: THE WHEEL OF BEING I by HAYDEN CARRUTH FINIS by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY: IPPOLIT KONOVALOFF by EDGAR LEE MASTERS |