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, @3"She's got a pull, That old lady."@1 "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?" | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...CHAMBER MUSIC: 27 by JAMES JOYCE SUNSET by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON ITALIAN PICTURES: JULY IN VALLOMBROSA by MINA LOY A MAN CHILD IS BORN (1809) by EDGAR LEE MASTERS DOMESDAY BOOK: ALMA BELL TO THE CORONER by EDGAR LEE MASTERS SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY: DIPPOLD THE OPTICIAN by EDGAR LEE MASTERS |