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Subject: FIRST WORLD WAR
Matches Found: 1015

UPDATE command denied to user 'poetryex_users'@'localhost' for table `poetryex_poems`.`subcnt` 11TH R.S.R., by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: How bright a dove's wing shows against the sky
Last Line: Not one, but by the host for ever marches.
Alternate Author Name(s): Blunden, Edmund
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


1914, by FRANK WILMOT    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: The sparrow has gone home into the tree
Last Line: But pity to the hearts of men no more.
Alternate Author Name(s): Maurice, Furnley
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


1914-1918: THE DEAD SPEAK, by JOHN DRINKWATER    Poem Text     Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: In the earth, in the seas, we remember
Last Line: That we may not forgive?
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


1914: 1. PEACE, by RUPERT BROOKE    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Now god be thanked who has matched us with his hour
Last Line: And the worst friend and enemy is but death.
Variant Title(s): Peace
Subject(s): Soldiers; Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


1914: 2. SAFETY, by RUPERT BROOKE    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Dear! Of all happy in the hour, most blest
Last Line: And if these poor limbs die, safest of all.
Subject(s): Freedom; Love; Soldiers; Soldiers' Writings; World War I; Liberty; First World War


1914: 5. THE SOLDIER, by RUPERT BROOKE    Poem Text     Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: If I should die, think only this of me
Last Line: In hearts at peace, under an english heaven.
Variant Title(s): The Soldier
Subject(s): Death; England; Environment; Fields; Flowers; Patriotism; Soldiers; Soldiers' Writings; World War I; Dead, The; English; Environmental Protection; Ecology; Conservation; Pastures; Meadows; Leas; First World War


1915, by JAMES OPPENHEIM    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Hang the hills with black
Last Line: You, man, arise!
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


1915: FEBRUARY, by EZRA POUND    Poem Text     Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: The smeared, leather-coated, leather-greaved engineer
Last Line: The unseen twigs, breaking their tips with blossom.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


1915: THE TRENCHES, by CONRAD AIKEN    Poem Text     Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: All night long, it has seemed for many years
Last Line: Will the word come to-day?
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


1916 SEEN FROM 1921, by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Tired with dull grief, grown old before my day
Last Line: We crept in the tall grass and slept till noon.
Alternate Author Name(s): Blunden, Edmund
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


A BALLAD OF REDHEAD'S DAY [OCTOBER 8, 1918], by RICHARD BUTLER GLAENZER    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Talk of the greeks at thermopylae!
Last Line: Immortal at thirty; his faith sufficed.
Subject(s): Argonne, Battle Of (1918); Heroism; World War I; York, Alvin Cullum (1887-1964); Heroes; Heroines; First World War


A BATTLE SONG (WRITTEN IN THE WORLD WAR), by AMOS RUSSEL WELLS    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Peril surrounding
Last Line: God for the right!
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


A BELGIAN CHRISTMAS EVE, by ALFRED NOYES    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Thou, whose deep ways are in the sea
Last Line: We know that thou art there.
Variant Title(s): A Prayer In Time Of War
Subject(s): Belgium; Christmas; World War I; Nativity, The; First World War


A BLINDED POILU TO HIS NURSE, by AGNES LEE    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: I know you only by your tears
Last Line: I know you only by your tears.
Alternate Author Name(s): Freer, Otto, Mrs.
Subject(s): Hospitals; Mourning; Nurses; Soldiers; Tears; War; World War I; Bereavement; First World War


A CALL TO ARMS, by MARY RAYMOND SHIPMAN ANDREWS    Poem Text                    
First Line: It is I, america, calling!
Last Line: Arm, arm, americans! And remember, remember, the tuscania!
Subject(s): Army - United States; Patriotism; World War I; First World War


A CALL TO NATIONAL SERVICE, by THOMAS HARDY    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Up and be doing, all who have a hand
Last Line: So loud for promptness all around outcries!
Subject(s): Great Britain; Patriotism; World War I; First World War


A CHILD'S NIGHTMARE, by ROBERT RANKE GRAVES    Poem Text     Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Through long nursery nights he stood / by my bed unwearying
Last Line: "saying for ever, ""cat! ... Cat! ... Cat!"
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


A CONFESSION OF FAITH, by JAMES SPRENT    Poem Text                    
First Line: Who would remember me were I to die
Last Line: If I am worth it, keep my memory.
Subject(s): Memory; Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


A DEAD BOCHE, by ROBERT RANKE GRAVES    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: To you who'd read my songs of war / and only hear of blood and fame
Last Line: Dribbling black blood from nose and beard.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


A DREAM OF PEACE, by LILY PEARL CHAMBERLIN    Poem Text                    
First Line: I dreamed that peace had come, - that nevermore
Last Line: The age of peace on earth, good will to men.
Subject(s): Dreams; Peace; World War I; Nightmares; First World War


A FARM NEAR ZILLEBEKE, by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Black clouds hide the moon, the amazement is gone
Last Line: Black clouds hid the moon, tears blinded me more.
Alternate Author Name(s): Blunden, Edmund
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


A FINGER AND A HUGE, THICK THUMB (A BALLAD OF THE TRENCHES), by JAMES NORMAN HALL    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: It was nearly twelve o'clock by the sergeant's watch
Last Line: A finger and a huge, thick thumb.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


A HILL IN PICARDY, by CLINTON SCOLLARD    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: There is a little hill in picardy
Last Line: This lonely little hill in picardy!
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


A HOUSE IN FESTUBERT, by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: With blind eyes meeting the mist and moon
Last Line: -- could summer betray you?
Alternate Author Name(s): Blunden, Edmund
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


A HUN, by VINCENT GODFREY BURNS    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: He was just a prisoner
Last Line: Would never know how bravely a son had died.
Subject(s): Courage; Death; Germany; Injustice; Prisoners Of War; Soldiers; Soldiers' Writings; World War I; Valor; Bravery; Dead, The; Germans; First World War


A HYMN OF LOVE AND HATE, by AMOS RUSSEL WELLS    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: We hate war's horrible hell
Last Line: For our love to come to its own.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


A KISS, by BERNARD FREEMAN TROTTER    Poem Text                    
First Line: She kissed me when she said goodbye
Last Line: Good-bye.
Subject(s): Farewell; Kisses; Soldiers' Writings; World War I; Parting; First World War


A LETTER FROM THE FRONT, by HENRY JOHN NEWBOLT    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: I was out early today, spying about
Last Line: But it struck me as being extremely ludicrous.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


A LETTER FROM THE TRENCHES, by CHARLES HAMILTON SORLEY    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: I have not brought my odyssey
Last Line: But you'll forgive—you'll understand.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


A LETTER HOME (TO ROBERT GRAVES), by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text     Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Here I'm sitting in the gloom
Last Line: While we know such dreams are true!
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


A MESSAGE TO AMERICA, by ALAN SEEGER    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: You have the grit and the guts, I know
Last Line: Oh, look over here and learn from france!
Subject(s): France; Presidents, United States; Roosevelt, Theodore (1858-1919); Soldiers' Writings; Tolerance; United States; World War I; America; First World War


A MILLION YOUNG WORKMEN, 1915, by CARL SANDBURG    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: A million young workmen straight and strong lay stiff on the grass and roads
Last Line: God damn the grinning kings, god damn the kaiser and the czar.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


A MOTHER'S DEDICATION, by MARGARET PETERSON    Poem Text                    
First Line: Dear son of mine, the baby days are over
Last Line: God shall uphold you that you fight aright.
Subject(s): Mothers & Sons; World War I; First World War


A MYSTIC AS SOLDIER, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: I lived my days apart
Last Line: When will you sound again?
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


A NEW YEAR'S EVE IN WAR TIME, by THOMAS HARDY    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Phantasmal fears
Last Line: To pale europe; and tiredly the pines intone.
Subject(s): Holidays; New Year; World War I; First World War


A NIGHTINGALE AT FRESNOY, by JESSIE BELL RITTENHOUSE    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Never, they say, were guns so loud
Last Line: To sing the song of life!
Alternate Author Name(s): Scollard, Clinton, Mrs.
Subject(s): Birds; Death; Life; Nightingales; War; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


A PETITION, by ROBERT ERNEST VERNEDE    Poem Text                    
First Line: All that a man might ask, thou hast given me, england
Last Line: England, for thee to die.
Subject(s): England; Soldiers' Writings; World War I; English; First World War


A PICTURE OF SOLDIERS, by MARVIN BELL    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: They are doughboys, of doughboy bearing
Last Line: The next invention, the next impossible president.
Subject(s): Photography & Photographers; Soldiers; War; World War I; First World War


A PRIVATE, by PHILIP EDWARD THOMAS    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: This ploughman dead in battle slept out of doors
Alternate Author Name(s): Eastaway, Edward; Thomas, Edward
Subject(s): Soldiers; World War I; First World War


A RALLY, by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: We that are english born and bred
Last Line: Answer them -- answer them, england's sons!
Alternate Author Name(s): Dobson, Austin
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


A RENASCENCE, by ROBERT RANKE GRAVES    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: White flabbiness goes brown and lean, dumpling arms are now brass bars
Last Line: Poetry is born again.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


A SONG FOR AMERICA, by ROBERT UNDERWOOD JOHNSON    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: How comely is our motherland
Last Line: And guard her as of yore.
Subject(s): United States; World War I; America; First World War


A SONG OF HEROES (WRITTEN IN THE WORLD WAR), by AMOS RUSSEL WELLS    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Our country calls for heroes
Last Line: And for all the groaning earth!
Subject(s): Heroism; World War I; Heroes; Heroines; First World War


A SONG OF SHAME AND HONOR (WRITTEN IN THE WORDLD WAR), by AMOS RUSSEL WELLS    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Where's the man who will not hear
Last Line: Honored through eternity!
Subject(s): Patriotism; World War I; First World War


A SONG OF THE SANDBAGS, by ROBERT WILLIAM SERVICE    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: No, bill, I'm not a-spooning out no patriotic tosh
Last Line: The brotherhood of peace.
Subject(s): Death; War; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


A SONG OF WINTER WEATHER, by ROBERT WILLIAM SERVICE    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: It isn't the foe that we fear
Last Line: And the mud.
Subject(s): Death; War; Winter; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


A SUBALTERN, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: He turned to me with his kind, sleepy gaze
Last Line: Wondering 'why he always talked such tripe'.
Subject(s): Soldiers; Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


A SUMMER MORNING, by CLINTON SCOLLARD    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: The summer meads are fair with daisy-snow
Last Line: The ruthless wrong, the piteous agony!
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


A TERRE (BEING THE PHILOSOPHY OF MANY SOLDIERS), by WILFRED OWEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis         Recitation     Poet's Biography
First Line: Sit on the bed. I'm blind, and three parts shell
Last Line: To do without what blood remained these wounds.
Subject(s): Soldiers; Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


A TRUE-BLUE BROADSIDE OF '14, by WALTER JOHN DE LA MARE    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: And what's the news, mr. Sergeant, what news, my soldier man?'
Last Line: With a leetle more broth than he meant to spare 'twixt petersburg and france.'
Alternate Author Name(s): Ramal, Walter; De La Mare, Walter
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


A WHISPERED TALE, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: I'd heard fool heroes brag of where they'd been
Last Line: Sour jokes for all those horrors left behind.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


A WORKING PARTY, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Three hours ago he blundered up the trench
Last Line: His startled life with lead, and all went out.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


A YOUNG TREE, by RICHARD ALDINGTON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: There are so few trees here, so few young trees
Last Line: Could not our faith be more merciful?
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


A.E.F., by CARL SANDBURG    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: There will bea rusty gun on the wall, sweetheart
Last Line: They will tell the spider: go on, you're doing good work.
Subject(s): Rifles; World War I; First World War


A.G.A.V., by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Rest you well among your race, you who cannot be dead
Last Line: Vast tumult past, and the proud sense still of vast to-morrows to dare.
Alternate Author Name(s): Blunden, Edmund
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


ABSOLUTION, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: The anguish of the earth absolves our eyes
Last Line: What need we more, my comrades and my brothers?
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS TO THE BRITISH NAVY, by AMOS RUSSEL WELLS    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: We do not like to own it
Last Line: Hurrah for johnny bull!
Subject(s): Navy - Great Britain; World War I; English Navy; First World War


ADMIRAL DUGOUT, by CICELY FOX SMITH    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: He had done with fleets and squadrons, with
Last Line: That he has as captain dugout, r.N.R.
Subject(s): Admirals; World War I; First World War


AFTER ACTION (A SOUL REMEMBERS), by ROBERT HAVEN SCHAUFFLER    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Once, in my moment of earth
Last Line: In rearing a heavenly flower.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


AFTER COURT MARTIAL, by FRANCIS LEDWIDGE    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: My mind is not my mind, therefore
Last Line: Not I the king of babylon.
Subject(s): Babylon; Military Justice; World War I; Courts Martial; First World War


AFTER JUTLAND, by KATHARINE TYNAN    Poem Text     Poem Explanation                 Poet's Biography
First Line: The city of god is late become a seaport town
Last Line: The sailor he is home from sea to go back no more.
Alternate Author Name(s): Hinkson, Katharine Tynan
Subject(s): Sailing & Sailors; World War I; First World War


AFTER MY LAST SONG, by FRANCIS LEDWIDGE    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Where I shall rest when my last song is over
Last Line: You'll sleep here on wan cheeks grown thin and old.
Subject(s): Death; Mortality; Poetry & Poets; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


AFTER THE RETREAT, by MAY SINCLAIR    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: If I could only see again
Last Line: The house we passed that day.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


AFTER THE WAR, by THOMAS HARDY    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Last post sounded
Last Line: "and she the dead!"
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


AFTER THE WAR, by RICHARD THOMAS LE GALLIENNE    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: After the war - I hear men ask - what then?
Last Line: Whose meaning is beyond the reach of time.
Subject(s): Peace; World War I; First World War


AFTER THE WAR, by AMOS RUSSEL WELLS    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: All of our wrongs shall be righted
Last Line: After the war?
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


AFTERMATH, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis         Recitation     Poet's Biography
First Line: Have you forgotten yet?
Last Line: Never forget.
Subject(s): Veterans Day; World War I; First World War


AFTERNOON TEA, by ROBERT WILLIAM SERVICE    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: As I was saying ... No, thank you; I never take cream with my tea
Last Line: Let's talk of the things that matter -- your car or the newest play. . . .
Subject(s): War; World War I; First World War


ALONG THE PATHS O' GLORY, by EDGAR ALBERT GUEST    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Along the paths o' glory there are faces new to-day
Last Line: Served the truth.
Alternate Author Name(s): Guest, Eddie
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


AMERICA AT WAR, by GERTRUDE BROWN SMITH    Poem Text                    
First Line: America, / if thy sons can go to war
Last Line: And war shall never more be.
Subject(s): Battleships; World War I; First World War


AMERICA IN FRANCE, by ROBERT UNDERWOOD JOHNSON    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Oh, to be in paris now that pershing's there!
Last Line: To make the round world safe for man . . . O god, that I were young!
Subject(s): Pershing, John J. (1860-1948); World War I; First World War


AMMUNITION COLUMN, by GILBERT FRANKAU    Poem Text                    
First Line: I am only a cog in a giant machine, a link of an endless chain
Last Line: Cog on cog in the gun-machine, link on link in the chain!
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


AN APPEAL TO AMERICA ON BEHALF OF THE BELGIAN DESTITUTE, by THOMAS HARDY    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Seven millions stand
Last Line: No man can say?
Subject(s): Belgium; United States; World War I; America; First World War


AN APPLE TREE IN FRANCE, by EDGAR ALBERT GUEST    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: An apple tree beside the way
Last Line: They put to death an apple tree!
Alternate Author Name(s): Guest, Eddie
Subject(s): Apple Trees; World War I; First World War


AN ARCTIC EPITAPH, by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: No grave more nobly graced
Last Line: And striving -- died.
Alternate Author Name(s): Dobson, Austin
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


AN ENGLISHMAN TO A GERMAN AVIATOR, by MORRIE RYSKIND    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Ay, we are enemies-and deadly ones
Last Line: There is no room within our hearts for hate.
Subject(s): Air Warfare; Death; Enemies; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


AN INFANTRYMAN, by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Painfully writhed the few last weeds upon those houseless / uplands
Last Line: Sunny as a may-day dance, along that spectral avenue.
Alternate Author Name(s): Blunden, Edmund
Subject(s): Soldiers; World War I; First World War


AN IRISH AIRMAN FORESEES HIS DEATH, by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS    Poem Text     Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis         Recitation     Poet's Biography
First Line: I know that I shall meet my fate
Last Line: In balance with this life, this death.
Alternate Author Name(s): Yeats, W. B.
Subject(s): Air Warfare; Aviation & Aviators; Death; Freedom; Soldiers; War; World War I; Airplanes; Air Pilots; Dead, The; Liberty; First World War


AN OLD AND TWENTY-THIRD MAN, by ROBERT RANKE GRAVES    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Is that the three and twentieth, strabo mine
Last Line: "shall bang old vercingetorix out of gaul."
Variant Title(s): The Legion
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


AN OLD OLD STORY, by ROYALL HENDERSON SNOW    Poem Text                    
First Line: Pierre was lonely
Last Line: And the moon came up: a great white lily.
Subject(s): Farewell; Flowers; Soldiers; Solitude; World War I; Parting; Loneliness; First World War


AND BARBARROSSA SLEEPS, by WILLIAM A. PHELON    Poem Text                    
First Line: Defeat and death the germans knew
Last Line: Unmoved, shall barbarossa sleep!
Subject(s): Germany; Legends; World War I; Germans; First World War


AND THE COCK CREW, by AMELIA JOSEPHINE BURR    Poem Text                    
First Line: I hate them all!' said old gaspard
Last Line: And turning, looked on old gaspard.
Subject(s): Death; Hate; Hospitals; Sickness; Soldiers; War; World War I; Dead, The; Illness; First World War


AND THERE WAS A GREAT CALM', by THOMAS HARDY    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: There had been years of passion -- scorching, cold
Last Line: And again the spirit of pity whispered, 'why?'
Subject(s): Holidays; Veterans Day; World War I; First World War


AND THEY OBEY, by CARL SANDBURG    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Smash down the cities
Last Line: You are workmen and citizens all: we command you.
Subject(s): Duty; Soldiers; World War I; First World War


ANIMA POETA: A CHRISTMAS ENTRY FOR THE SUICIDE, MAYAKOVSKY, by NORMAN DUBIE    Poem Source                     Poet's Biography
First Line: It has nothing to do with the warmth of moonset
Last Line: Much later in your life you joined them.
Subject(s): Mayakovsky, Vladimir (1893-1930); Suicide; World War I; First World War


ANNIVERSARY, by ANONYMOUS    Poem Text                    
First Line: Boom! 'what's that?'
Last Line: Ten years -- come sunday
Subject(s): Bombs;veterans;veterans Day;war;world War I; First World War


ANOTHER JOURNEY FROM BETHUNE TO CUINCHY, by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: I see you walking
Last Line: My time for trench round.
Alternate Author Name(s): Blunden, Edmund
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


ANTHEM FOR DOOMED YOUTH, by WILFRED OWEN    Poem Text     Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis         Recitation     Poet's Biography
First Line: What passing-bells for these who die as cattle?
Last Line: And each slow dusk a drawing-down of blinds.
Subject(s): Mortality; Mourning; Soldiers; Soldiers' Writings; World War I; Youth; Bereavement; First World War


ANTWERP, by PERCY MACKAYE    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Towers - eternal towers against the sky
Last Line: And from their towers of tyranny hurled down.
Alternate Author Name(s): Mackaye, Percy Wallace
Subject(s): Antwerp, Belgium; Architecture & Architects; Buildings & Builders; Stones; World War I; Granite; Rocks; First World War


APOCALYPSE, by RONALD ROSS    Poem Text                    
First Line: The visions of the soul, more strange than dreams
Last Line: And drew him down. And the voice answer'd, so.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


APOLOGIA PRO POEMATE MEO, by WILFRED OWEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: I, too, saw god through mud
Last Line: Your tears: you are not worth their merriment.
Subject(s): Freedom; Soldiers' Writings; World War I; Liberty; First World War


APPEAL TO AMERICAN AUTHORS, by NATE SALSBURY    Poem Text                    
First Line: When kaiser wilhelm's little war
Last Line: America -- long may she wave!
Alternate Author Name(s): Ireland, Baron
Subject(s): Debt; World War I; Writing & Writers; First World War


APRIL ON THE BATTLEFIELDS, by LEONORA SPEYER    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: April now walks the fields again
Last Line: Spreading her lovely grief upon the graves of man.
Subject(s): April; World War I; First World War


APRIL, 1917, by HANIEL (CLARK) LONG    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Though life returns with april's breath
Last Line: And there is blood upon the air.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


ARMENIA, by ROBERT UNDERWOOD JOHNSON    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Of all the nations new and free
Last Line: Armenia.
Subject(s): Armenia; World War I; First World War


ARMISTICE, by WILLIAM A. PHELON    Poem Text                    
First Line: And this was germany--this puff of dust
Last Line: This worn gray shoddy, and this iron rust!
Subject(s): Freedom; Germany; United States; World War I; Liberty; Germans; America; First World War


ARMISTICE DAY, by ROSELLE MERCIER MONTGOMERY    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: I think I hear them stirring there, today
Last Line: The young dead weeping!
Subject(s): Holidays; Veterans Day; World War I; First World War


ARMISTICE DAY, by WILLIAM A. PHELON    Poem Text                    
First Line: The crash of shells among the falling trees
Last Line: Aye—a year of proudest glory—and of musing o'er our dead!
Subject(s): Holidays; Praise; Soldiers; Veterans Day; World War I; First World War


ARMISTICE DAY, 1928, by ERNEST HARTSOCK    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Come, let us wave a flag and jump and yell
Last Line: The terrible cry of brothers, crucified!)
Subject(s): Holidays; Veterans; Veterans Day; World War I; First World War


ARMISTICE DAY; A PHANTASY, by JOHN J. WILLOUGHBY    Poem Text                    
First Line: The half-light of a raw november day
Last Line: Shall echo, with a mighty voice ... Dismiss!
Subject(s): Death; Military; Soldiers; Veterans Day; War; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


ARMS AND THE BOY, by WILFRED OWEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Let the boy try along this bayonet-blade
Last Line: Nor antlers through the thickness of his curls.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


ARMS AND THE MAN, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Young croesus went to pay his call
Last Line: Will captain croesus come this way?'
Subject(s): Soldiers; Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


AS THE TEAM'S HEAD BRASS, by PHILIP EDWARD THOMAS    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: As the team's head brass flashed out on the turn
Last Line: After the ploughshare and the stumbling team.
Alternate Author Name(s): Eastaway, Edward; Thomas, Edward
Subject(s): Farm Life; World War I; Agriculture; Farmers; First World War


AT CARNOY, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Down in the hollow there's the whole brigade
Last Line: To take some cursed wood ... O world god made!
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


AT PARTING, by ABBIE CARTER GOODLOE    Poem Text                    
First Line: Now must we go our separate ways, beloved
Last Line: "and breathes in tranquil rapture, ""here is peace!""?"
Subject(s): Farewell; Wellesley College; World War I; Parting; First World War


AT PARTING, by KATHARINE TYNAN    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: It was sad weather when you went away
Last Line: And you coming home, home through the hours of sleep.
Alternate Author Name(s): Hinkson, Katharine Tynan
Subject(s): Women And War; World War I; First World War


AT SENLIS ONCE, by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: O how comely it was and how reviving
Last Line: Sang as though nothing but joy came after!
Alternate Author Name(s): Blunden, Edmund
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


AT ST. PAUL'S, by HARDWICKE DRUMMOND RAWNSLEY    Poem Text                    
First Line: Not since wren's dome has whispered with man's prayer
Last Line: And christ, not odin, is acclaimed the lord.
Subject(s): Prayer; St. Paul's Cathedral, London; World War I; First World War


AT THE ENTERING OF THE NEW YEAR, by THOMAS HARDY    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Our songs went up and out the chimney
Last Line: "albeit the fault may not be thine."
Subject(s): Holidays; New Year; World War I; First World War


AT THE MOVIES, by FLORENCE RIPLEY MASTIN    Poem Text                    
First Line: They swing across the screen in brave array
Last Line: Then I remember, and my heart grows cold!
Subject(s): Motion Pictures; Women And War; World War I; Movies; Cinema; First World War


AT THE PEACE TABLE, by EDGAR ALBERT GUEST    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Who shall sit at the table, then, when the terms
Last Line: You must please not only the living here, but must satisfy your dead.
Alternate Author Name(s): Guest, Eddie
Subject(s): Peace; World War I; First World War


ATTACK, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: At dawn the ridge emerges massed and dun
Last Line: Flounders in mud. O jesus, make it stop!
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


AUGUST 1914, by ISAAC ROSENBERG    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: What in our lives is burnt
Last Line: A fair mouth's broken tooth.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


AUSTRIAN CAVALRY SONG, by H. ZUCKERMANN    Poem Text                    
First Line: There in the meadow-land
Last Line: Over belgrade!
Subject(s): Army - Austria; Cavalry; World War I; First World War


AUTUMN, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: October's bellowing anger breaks and cleaves
Last Line: The burden of your wrongs is on my head.
Subject(s): Autumn; Seasons; Soldiers' Writings; World War I; Fall; First World War


AUTUMN EVENING IN SERBIA, by FRANCIS LEDWIDGE    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: All the thin shadows
Last Line: And autumn begun.
Subject(s): Serbia; World War I; Servia; First World War


AUTUMN, 1914, by MARY WEBB    Poem Text         Poet Analysis            
First Line: The scarlet-jewelled ashtree sighed - 'he cometh'
Last Line: For whom then loving-cup is poured, the wild bee hummeth.'
Subject(s): Women; World War I; First World War


BACK, by WILFRID WILSON GIBSON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: They ask me where I've been
Last Line: Because he bore my name.
Variant Title(s): Black
Subject(s): Religion; War; World War I; Theology; First World War


BACK TO LONDON: A POEM OF LEAVE, by JOSEPH JOHNSTON LEE    Poem Text                    
First Line: I have not wept when I have seen
Last Line: Lord, may we hold it fast!
Subject(s): London; Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


BANISHMENT, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: I am banished from the patient men who fight
Last Line: And in their tortured eyes I stand forgiven.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


BARRAGE, by RICHARD ALDINGTON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Thunder / the gallop of innumerable valkyrie impetuous for battle
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


BASE DETAILS, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis         Recitation     Poet's Biography
First Line: If I were fierce, and bald, and short of breath
Last Line: I'd toddle safely home and die -- in bed.
Subject(s): Hypocrisy; Soldiers' Writings; Villains In Literature; World War I; First World War


BATTALION IN REST, by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Some found an owl's nest in the hollow skull
Last Line: Where stars new trembled with delight's design.
Alternate Author Name(s): Blunden, Edmund
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


BATTALION-RELIEF, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Fall in! Now get a move on!' (curse the rain)
Last Line: And tell me, have we won this war or not?'
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


BATTLE HYMN OF THE RUSSIAN REPUBLIC, by LOUIS UNTERMEYER    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: God, give us strength these days
Last Line: Trample it with our love!
Alternate Author Name(s): Lewis, Michael
Subject(s): Russia; World War I; Soviet Union; Russians; First World War


BATTLE SLEEP, by EDITH WHARTON    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Somewhere, o sun, some corner there must be
Last Line: And let some soul go seaward with that sail!
Subject(s): Evening; Sleep; World War I; Sunset; Twilight; First World War


BATTLE: 1. THE RETURN, by WILFRID WILSON GIBSON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: He went, and he was gay to go
Last Line: What stranger would come back to me.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


BATTLE: 3. HIT, by WILFRID WILSON GIBSON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Out of the sparkling sea
Last Line: Among the dead men in the trench.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


BATTLEFIELD, by RICHARD ALDINGTON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: The wind is piercing chill
Last Line: Priez pour lui
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


BEFORE ACTION, by WILFRID WILSON GIBSON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: I sit beside the brazier's glow
Last Line: Nor any cold or heat.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


BEFORE ACTION, by WILLIAM NOEL HODGSON    Poem Text     Poem Explanation                 Poet's Biography
First Line: By all the glories of the day
Last Line: Help me to die, o lord.
Alternate Author Name(s): Melbourne, Edward
Subject(s): Religion; Soldiers' Writings; World War I; Theology; First World War


BEFORE GINCHY; SEPTEMBER, 1916, by E. ARMINE WODEHOUSE    Poem Text                    
First Line: Yon poisonous clod
Last Line: Like dante, who have walk'd in hell.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


BEFORE SEDAN, by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Here in this leafy place
Last Line: Death will not have it so.
Alternate Author Name(s): Dobson, Austin
Subject(s): Corpses; France; Tragedy; World War I; Cadavers; First World War


BEFORE THE BATTLE, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Music of whispering trees
Last Line: O river of stars and shadows, lead me through the night.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


BEFORE THE CHARGE (LOOS, 1915), by PATRICK MACGILL    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: The night is still and the air is keen
Last Line: From the face of death. We charge at dawn.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


BEGINNING WITH 1914, by LISEL MUELLER    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Since it always begins
Alternate Author Name(s): Muller, Lisel
Subject(s): World War I; Ancestors & Ancestry; Fathers; Time; First World War; Heritage; Heredity


BEHIND THE LINE, by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Treasure not so the forlorn days
Last Line: Over the shades of shadows gone.
Alternate Author Name(s): Blunden, Edmund
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


BELGIAN BELLS, by AMOS RUSSEL WELLS    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Toll the bells for belgium, toll, toll, toll!
Last Line: Peal the bells for belgium, peal, peal, peal!
Subject(s): Belgium; Bells; World War I; First World War


BELLEAU WOODS, 1918, by NATHANIEL JOHN HASENFUS    Poem Text                    
First Line: All alone in belleau woods
Last Line: Gone to peaceful realms on high.
Subject(s): Belleau Wood, France; World War I; First World War


BELLINGLISE, by ALAN SEEGER    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Deep in the sloping forest that surrounds
Last Line: Trace in white fire the brave frontiers of france.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


BIG WORDS, by ROBERT RANKE GRAVES    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: I've whined of coming death, but now, no more!
Last Line: He cursed, prayed, sweated, wished the proud words back.
Subject(s): Courage; World War I; Valor; Bravery; First World War


BILL THE BOMBER, by ROBERT WILLIAM SERVICE    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: The poppies gleamed like bloody pools through cotton-wolly mist
Last Line: "for me bombs they wasn't wasted, though, you might say, ""thrown away."
Subject(s): Bombs; War; World War I; First World War


BILL'S GRAVE, by ROBERT WILLIAM SERVICE    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: I'm gatherin' flowers by the wayside to lay on the grave of bill
Last Line: When 'e stares through the bleedin' clods and sees the blossoms of jim and me?
Subject(s): Death; War; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


BIRD O'ER THE BATTLEFIELD, by ISABEL FISKE CONANT    Poem Text                    
First Line: Bird o'er the battlefield, singing in the lull of thunder
Last Line: Is it that christ, walking storm-waves of trenches, comes near?
Subject(s): Birds; Soldiers; War; World War I; First World War


BLACK SAMSON OF BRANDYWINE, by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Gray are the pages of record
Last Line: Black samson of brandywine.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


BLENHEIM ORANGES, by PHILIP EDWARD THOMAS    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Gone, gone again
Alternate Author Name(s): Eastaway, Edward; Thomas, Edward
Subject(s): Oranges; World War I; First World War


BLIGHTERS, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: The house is crammed: tier upon tier they grin
Last Line: To mock the riddled corpses round bapaume.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


BLIND, by JUNE RICHARDSON LUCAS    Poem Text                    
First Line: He saw the noonday sun
Last Line: He did not know that he was blind!
Subject(s): Blindness; Social Protest; Vision; World War I; Visually Handicapped; First World War


BLUE ROSES, by ELOISE ROBINSON    Poem Text                    
First Line: I sit beside the window sill
Last Line: Across a wall.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


BLUE, GRAY, AND BROWN, by WILLIAM A. PHELON    Poem Text                    
First Line: The camps are thick in dixie
Last Line: Our brown-clad fighting sons!
Subject(s): Soldiers; War; World War I; First World War


BOIS-ETOILE, by ETHEL M. HEWITT    Poem Text                    
First Line: What legend of a star that fell
Last Line: To keep dead springtides' trysts with her!)
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


BONDS -- AND BONDS, by AMOS RUSSEL WELLS    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Buy a bond to break a bond
Last Line: Fettering your brothers!
Subject(s): War Bonds; World War I; First World War


BREAK OF DAY, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: There seemed a smell of autumn in the air
Last Line: Hark! There's the horn: they're drawing the big wood.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


BREAK OF DAY IN THE TRENCHES, by ISAAC ROSENBERG    Poem Text     Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis         Recitation     Poet's Biography
First Line: The darkness crumbles away
Last Line: Just a little white with the dust.
Subject(s): Soldiers; Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


BREAKFAST, by WILFRID WILSON GIBSON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: We ate our breakfast lying on our backs
Last Line: Because the shells were screeching overhead.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


BREST LEFT BEHIND, by JOHN CHIPMAN FARRAR    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: The sun strikes gold the dirty street
Last Line: "I don't see very many tears,"" he says."
Subject(s): Holidays; Homecoming; Peace; Veterans Day; World War I; First World War


BRITISH MERCHANT SERVICE, 1915, by CICELY FOX SMITH    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Oh, down by millwall basin as I went the other day
Last Line: For a tight place is the right place when it's wild weather at sea!
Subject(s): Merchant Marine - Great Britain; World War I; First World War


BUTTONS, by CARL SANDBURG    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: I have been watching the war map slammed up for advertising
Last Line: Newspaper office where the freckle-faced young man is laughing to us?
Subject(s): Social Protest; World War I; First World War


CAMPUS SONNET: RETURN - 1917, by STEPHEN VINCENT BENET    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: I was just aiming at the jagged hole
Last Line: "I dreamed I . . . Am I . . . Wounded? ""you are dead."
Subject(s): Universities & Colleges; World War I; First World War


CANADIAN SONG (1), by ANONYMOUS    Poem Text                    
First Line: "dark, and the shells are falling"
Last Line: Now I am vainly dreaming - / dreaming of you
Subject(s): Army - Canada;world War I; First World War


CANADIAN SONG (2), by ANONYMOUS    Poem Text                    
First Line: Here we are - here we are - here we are again
Last Line: We gave you 'ell at neuve chapelle - and here we are again
Subject(s): Army - Canada;world War I; First World War


CANTO 16, by EZRA POUND    Poem Text     Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: And before hell mouth; dry plain
Subject(s): World War I; Heroism; Death; First World War; Heroes; Heroines; Dead, The


CAPTAIN GUYNEMER, by FLORENCE EARLE COATES    Poem Text                    
First Line: What high adventure, in what world afar
Last Line: And in man's grateful heart shall live immortally!
Subject(s): Aviation & Aviators; Holidays; Veterans Day; World War I; Airplanes; Air Pilots; First World War


CAPTAINS ADVENTUROUS, by NORAH M. HOLLAND    Poem Text                    
First Line: Captains adventurous, from your ports of quiet
Last Line: Captains adventurous, the masters of the sea.
Subject(s): Great Britain - Navy; World War I; First World War


CAPTIVES, by ERNEST HEMINGWAY    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Some came in chains
Last Line: Making death easy
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


CARNAGE: 1. DOUBT, by PERCY MACKAYE    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: So thin, so frail the opalescent ice
Last Line: Is hell so near to every human heart?
Alternate Author Name(s): Mackaye, Percy Wallace
Subject(s): Doubt; Peace; Sacrifices; Survival; World War I; Skepticism; First World War


CARNAGE: 2. THE GREAT NEGATION, by PERCY MACKAYE    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: When that great-minded man, sir edward grey
Last Line: He might have saved the world, and he would not.
Alternate Author Name(s): Mackaye, Percy Wallace
Subject(s): Grey, Sir Edward (1862-1935); Peace; World War I; Grey Of Fallodon, Viscount; Grey, 3d Baronet; First World War


CARNAGE: 3. LOUVAIN, by PERCY MACKAYE    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Serene in beauty's olden lineage
Last Line: Where the dead hail him william of louvain!
Alternate Author Name(s): Mackaye, Percy Wallace
Subject(s): Death; Dreams; Louvain, Belgium; Silence; Soul; World War I; Dead, The; Nightmares; First World War


CARNAGE: 4. RHEIMS, by PERCY MACKAYE    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Apollo mourns another parthenon
Last Line: More bitter than to battle — is to feel.
Alternate Author Name(s): Mackaye, Percy Wallace
Subject(s): Apollo; Mythology - Classical; Napoleon I (1769-1821); Pain; Rheims, France; Ruins; World War I; Suffering; Misery; First World War


CARNAGE: 5. KULTUR, by PERCY MACKAYE    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: If men must murder, pillage, sack, despoil
Last Line: To answer him: once rheims was — and louvain!
Alternate Author Name(s): Mackaye, Percy Wallace
Subject(s): Culture Conflict; Louvain, Belgium; Rheims, France; World War I; First World War


CARNAGE: 6. DESTINY, by PERCY MACKAYE    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: We are what we imagine, and our deeds
Last Line: And dream from that despair — democracy.
Alternate Author Name(s): Mackaye, Percy Wallace
Subject(s): Democracy; Fate; World War I; Destiny; First World War


CARRY ON!, by THOMAS CURTIS CLARK    Poem Text                    
First Line: They have not fought in vain, our dead
Last Line: May pledge to all her sacred fires.
Subject(s): Peace; Progress; World War I; First World War


CARRY ON!, by ROBERT WILLIAM SERVICE    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: It's easy to fight when everything's right
Last Line: Carry on, my soul! Carry on!
Subject(s): Religion; World War I; Theology; First World War


CHAMPAGNE, 1914-1915, by ALAN SEEGER    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: In the glad revels, in the happy fetes
Last Line: Oh, frame your lips as though it were a kiss.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


CHANNEL FIRING, by THOMAS HARDY    Poem Text     Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: That night your great guns, unawares
Last Line: And camelot, and starlit stonehenge.
Subject(s): Death; Guns; Social Protest; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


CHANNEL SUNSET, by JOHN GOULD FLETCHER    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Over the shallow, angry english channel
Last Line: The struggle of burning spears in the cold twilight.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


CHAPLAIN TO THE FORCES, by WINIFRED MARY LETTS    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Ambassador of christ you go
Last Line: Still floats the ensign of his cross.
Subject(s): Chaplains, Army; World War I; First World War


CHILDREN OF THE WAR, by KATHARINE LEE BATES    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Shrunken little bodies, pallid baby faces
Subject(s): World War I; Children; First World War; Childhood


CHRIST IN FLANDERS, by LUCY WHITMELL    Poem Text                    
First Line: We had forgotten you, or very nearly
Last Line: And that you'll stand beside us to the last.
Alternate Author Name(s): W., L.
Subject(s): Flanders, Belgium; Jesus Christ; Women; World War I; First World War


CHRISTMAS BELLS, by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: What do your clear bells ring to me
Last Line: So many dead! So many dead!
Alternate Author Name(s): Dobson, Austin
Subject(s): Bells; Christmas; World War I; Nativity, The; First World War


CHRISTMAS EVE, 1917, by ROBERT SEYMOUR BRIDGES    Poem Text     Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Many happy returns, sweet babe, of the day!
Last Line: Ever happier and happier returns, dear christ, of thy day!
Alternate Author Name(s): Bridges, Robert+(2)
Subject(s): Christmas; England; World War I; Nativity, The; English; First World War


CHRISTMAS IN WARTIME: 1916, by ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Cheer oh, comrades, we can bide the blast
Last Line: If duty done makes all the others brighter.
Subject(s): Christmas; Comfort; Duty; War; World War I; Nativity, The; First World War


CHRISTMAS IN WARTIME: 1917: THE LAST LAP, by ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: We seldom were quick off the mark
Last Line: Be your victorious christmas-tide.
Subject(s): Christmas; England; Hope; Patience; Victory; War; World War I; Nativity, The; English; Optimism; First World War


CHRISTMAS, 1915, by PERCY MACKAYE    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Now is the midnight of the nations: dark
Last Line: What new-wing'd world, or mangled god still-born?
Alternate Author Name(s): Mackaye, Percy Wallace
Subject(s): Christmas; World War I; Nativity, The; First World War


CLARION, CLARION, by THEODORE B. HUNT    Poem Text                    
First Line: Clarion, clarion, singing so boldly
Last Line: Give me the young men, the young men, I say.
Subject(s): Courage; Soldiers; World War I; Youth; Valor; Bravery; First World War


CLEAN HANDS, by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Make this thing plain to us, o lord
Last Line: Make this thing plain!
Alternate Author Name(s): Dobson, Austin
Subject(s): Holidays; Peace; Veterans Day; World War I; First World War


CLEAR WEATHER, by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: A cloudless day! With a keener line
Last Line: A great transparent dragon-fly.
Alternate Author Name(s): Blunden, Edmund
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


COCOTTE, by ROBERT WILLIAM SERVICE    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: When a girl's sixteen, and as poor as she's pretty
Last Line: They're bringing my blind boy in at the gate.
Subject(s): Death; Girls; War; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


COMRADES, by WILFRID WILSON GIBSON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: As I was marching in flanders
Last Line: "I'll bear you company."
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


COMRADES: AN EPISODE, by ROBERT MALISE BOWYER NICHOLS    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Before, before he was aware
Last Line: "hearing him whisper, ""o my men, my men!"
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


CONCERNING EMPERORS: 1. GOD SENT THE REGICIDE, by NICHOLAS VACHEL LINDSAY    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Would that the lying rulers of the world
Last Line: God send the regicide.
Alternate Author Name(s): Lindsay, Vachel
Subject(s): Courts & Courtiers; World War I; Royal Court Life; Royalty; Kings; Queens; First World War


CONCERNING EMPERORS: 2. A COLLOQUIAL REPLY - TO ANY NEWSBOY, by NICHOLAS VACHEL LINDSAY    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: If you lay for iago at the stage door with a brick
Last Line: Yet I chase the thing he stands for with a brickbat in my hand.
Alternate Author Name(s): Lindsay, Vachel
Subject(s): Courts & Courtiers; World War I; Royal Court Life; Royalty; Kings; Queens; First World War


CONCERT PARTY (EGYPTIAN BASE CAMP), by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: They are gathering around
Last Line: Silent, they drift away, over the glimmering sand.
Subject(s): Egypt; World War I; First World War


CONCERT PARTY: BUSSEBOOM, by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: The stage was set, the house was packed
Last Line: Were kicking men to death.
Alternate Author Name(s): Blunden, Edmund
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


CONSCIOUS, by WILFRED OWEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: His fingers wake, and flutter; up the bed
Last Line: No time to dream, and ask -- he knows not what.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


CONSCRIPTS, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Fall in, that awdward squad, and strike no more
Last Line: And marched resplendent home with crowns and stars.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


CORPORAL STARE, by ROBERT RANKE GRAVES    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Back from the line one night in june, / I gave a dinner at bethune
Last Line: A fag-end dropped on the silent road.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


COULD THEY BUT KNOW (NOVEMBER, 1918), by WILL CHAMBERLAIN    Poem Text                    
First Line: Could they but know -- the countless heroes dead
Last Line: And vision give our holy dead to-day.
Subject(s): Death; Heroism; Honor; Military; Soldiers; Veterans Day; World War I; Dead, The; Heroes; Heroines; First World War


COUNTER-ATTACK, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis         Recitation     Poet's Biography
First Line: We'd gained our first objective hours before
Last Line: Bleeding to death. The counter-attack had failed.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


COUNTRY, MY COUNTRY (WRITTEN IN THE WORLD WAR), by AMOS RUSSEL WELLS    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Fair with the beauty of heaven on earth
Last Line: Dare to be free for the freedom of all.
Subject(s): Patriotism; World War I; First World War


COURAGE, by DYNELEY HUSSEY    Poem Text                    
First Line: Alone amid the battle-din untouched
Last Line: And she shall lead us back to peace again.
Subject(s): Courage; Soldiers' Writings; World War I; Valor; Bravery; First World War


CRAMPED IN THAT FUNNELLED HOLE, by WILFRED OWEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Cramped in that funnelled hole, they watched the dawn
Last Line: Mixed with the sour sharp odour of the shell.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


CRY OF THE HOMELESS, by THOMAS HARDY    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Instigator of the ruin
Last Line: Till death dark thee with his pall.'
Subject(s): Homeless; World War I; First World War


CYNICS, by EDWARD RALPH CHEYNEY    Poem Text                    
First Line: Between old pan and pandemonium
Last Line: We would reshape our lives—it is too late.
Alternate Author Name(s): Cheyney, Ralph
Subject(s): Life; War; World War I; First World War


D'ANNUNZIO, by ERNEST HEMINGWAY    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Half a million dead wops
Last Line: The son of a bitch
Subject(s): World War I; D'annunzio, Gabriele (1863-1938); First World War


DAUGHTERS OF WAR, by ISAAC ROSENBERG    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Space beats the ruddy freedom of their limbs
Last Line: "years."
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; Women & War; World War I; First World War


DAWN, by DANIEL MACINTYRE HENDERSON    Poem Text                    
First Line: The hour of dawn is the hour of death
Last Line: The hour of dawn is the hour of life!
Subject(s): Arms & Armor; Dawn; Death; War; World War I; Weapons; Ammunition; Sunrise; Dead, The; First World War


DEAD COW FARM, by ROBERT RANKE GRAVES    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: An ancient saga tells us how
Last Line: And the cow's dead, the old cow's dead.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


DEAD MAN'S COTTAGE, by JAMES HARRY KNIGHT-ADKIN    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: A loft with a ruckle of twisted rafters where the blue sky shows through ...
Last Line: Stay.
Subject(s): Death; Soldiers' Writings; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


DEAD MAN'S DUMP, by ISAAC ROSENBERG    Poem Text     Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis         Recitation     Poet's Biography
First Line: The plunging limbers over the shattered track
Last Line: And our wheels grazed his dead face.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


DEAD MUSICIANS, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: From you, beethoven, bach, mozart
Last Line: They're dead ... For god's sake stop that gramophone.
Subject(s): Germany; Music & Musicians; Soldiers' Writings; World War I; Germans; First World War


DEATH AND THE FAIRIES, by PATRICK MACGILL    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Before I joined the army
Last Line: Who is holding carnival.
Subject(s): Flanders, Belgium; World War I; First World War


DESPOTISMS, by LOUISE IMOGEN GUINEY    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: From hedgerows where aromas fain would be
Last Line: The golden english heads like harvest grain.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


DESTROYERS, by HENRY HEAD    Poem Text                    
First Line: On this primeval strip of western land
Last Line: Are bought with death.
Subject(s): Ships & Shipping; World War I; First World War


DESTROYERS OFF JUTLAND, by REGINALD MCINTOSH CLEVELAND    Poem Text                    
First Line: They had hot scent across the spumy sea
Last Line: These hounds that england suckled at the birth.
Subject(s): Great Britain - Navy; Jutland; World War I; First World War


DEVOTION TO DUTY, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: I was near the king that day. I saw him snatch
Last Line: This wife how her heroic husband fell.'
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


DIED OF WOUNDS, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: His wet white face and miserable eyes
Last Line: And some slight wound lay smiling on the bed.
Subject(s): Mourning; Soldiers; Soldiers' Writings; World War I; Bereavement; First World War


DISABLED, by WILFRED OWEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis         Recitation     Poet's Biography
First Line: He sat in a wheeled chair, waiting for dark
Last Line: And put him into bed? Why don't they come?
Subject(s): Physical Disabilities; Soldiers' Writings; World War I; Handicapped; Handicaps; Physically Challenged; Cripples; First World War


DISCOVERERS; IN MEMORY OF CHRISTIAN ENDEAVORERS WHO DIED, by AMOS RUSSEL WELLS    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: High glory his who walks where god alone
Last Line: For god and man, for liberty and right.
Subject(s): Christianity; World War I; First World War


DREAMERS, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Soldiers are citizens of death's grey land
Last Line: And going to the office in the train.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


DRUM TAPS TO HEAVEN, by JAMES CHURCH ALVORD    Poem Text                    
First Line: Peter at heaven's gate wearied of the game
Last Line: Rat-a-tat -- rat-a-tat -- tir-r-r-rah -- tah-tah!
Subject(s): Heaven; World War I; Paradise; First World War


DULCE ET DECORUM EST, by WILFRED OWEN    Poem Text     Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis         Recitation     Poet's Biography
First Line: Bent double, like old beggars under sacks
Last Line: Pro patria mori.
Subject(s): Chemical Warfare; Hate; Men; Patriotism; Social Protest; Soldiers; Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


EASTER AT YPRES: 1915, by WALTER SCOTT STUART LYON    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: The sacred head was bound and diapered
Last Line: And thou shalt reawake, though aye be scarred.
Subject(s): World War I; Ypres, Belgium; First World War


EDITH CAVELL, by LAURENCE BINYON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: She was binding the wounds of her enemies when they came
Last Line: It is victory speaks her name.
Subject(s): Cavell, Edith (1865-1915); Nurses; World War I; First World War


EDITH CAVELL, by ROBERT UNDERWOOD JOHNSON    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Room 'mid the martyrs for a deathless name!
Last Line: Has sealed the savage hohenzollerns' doom!
Subject(s): Cavell, Edith (1865-1915); Nurses; World War I; First World War


EDITORIAL IMPRESSIONS, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: He seemed so certain 'all was going well'
Last Line: Ah, yes, but it's the press that leads the way!'
Subject(s): Newspapers; Soldiers' Writings; World War I; Journalism; Journalists; First World War


ELEGY IN A COUNTRY CHURCHYARD, by GILBERT KEITH CHESTERTON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: The men that worked for england / they have their graves at home
Last Line: They have no graves as yet.
Alternate Author Name(s): Chesterton, G. K.
Subject(s): England; Politics & Government; Soldiers; World War I; English; First World War


ENEMIES, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: He stood alone in some queer sunless place
Last Line: Because his face could make them understand.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


ENGLAND AND AMERICA, by FLORENCE TABER HOLT    Poem Text                    
First Line: Mother and child! Though the dividing sea
Last Line: Whose lives were given for this larger life.
Subject(s): Mothers; World War I; First World War


ENGLAND I THE WORLD WAR, by EDNA DEAN PROCTOR    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Dauntless, high-hearted england! 'twas thy day
Last Line: This glorious watch and ward wilt thou forego!
Alternate Author Name(s): Dean
Subject(s): England; World War I; English; First World War


ENGLAND TO GERMANY IN 1914, by THOMAS HARDY    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: O england, may god punish thee!'
Last Line: And present sight, your ancient name.
Subject(s): Germany; World War I; Germans; First World War


EPICEDIUM; IN MEMORY OF AMERICA'S DEAD IN THE GREAT WAR, by JOSEPH CORSON MILLER    Poem Text                    
First Line: No more for them shall evening's rose unclose
Last Line: They answer, knowing all.
Alternate Author Name(s): Miller, J. Corson
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


EPITAPH ON AN ARMY OF MERCENARIES, by ALFRED EDWARD HOUSMAN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: These, in the day when heaven was falling
Last Line: And saved the sum of things for pay.
Alternate Author Name(s): Housman, A. E.
Subject(s): Labor & Laborers; World War I; Work; Workers; First World War


EPITAPHS OF THE WAR, 1914-18: 'EQUALITY OF SACRIFICE', by RUDYARD KIPLING    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: I was a have
Last Line: "(together.) ""what hast thou given which I gave not?"
Subject(s): Sacrifices; War; World War I; First World War


EPITAPHS OF THE WAR, 1914-18: A DEAD STATESMAN, by RUDYARD KIPLING    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: I could not dig: I dared not rob
Last Line: Mine angry and defrauded young?
Subject(s): Politics & Government; War - Home Front; World War I; First World War


EPITAPHS OF THE WAR, 1914-18: A DRIFTER OFF TARENTUM, by RUDYARD KIPLING    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: He from the wind-bitten north with ship and companions descended
Last Line: In flame and a clamorous breath known to the eye-pecking gulls.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


EPITAPHS OF THE WAR, 1914-18: A GRAVE NEAR CAIRO, by RUDYARD KIPLING    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Gods of the nile, should this stout fellow here
Last Line: Get out -- get out! He knows not shame nor fear.
Subject(s): Graves; World War I; Tombs; Tombstones; First World War


EPITAPHS OF THE WAR, 1914-18: A SERVANT, by RUDYARD KIPLING    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: We were together since the war began
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


EPITAPHS OF THE WAR, 1914-18: A SON, by RUDYARD KIPLING    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: My son was killed while laughing at some jest
Subject(s): War; World War I; First World War


EPITAPHS OF THE WAR, 1914-18: AN ONLY SON, by RUDYARD KIPLING    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: I have slain none except my mother. She
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


EPITAPHS OF THE WAR, 1914-18: BATTERIES OUT OF AMMUNITION, by RUDYARD KIPLING    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: If any mourn us in the workshop, say
Last Line: We died because the shift kept holiday.
Subject(s): War - Home Front; World War I; First World War


EPITAPHS OF THE WAR, 1914-18: BOMBER IN LONDON, by RUDYARD KIPLING    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: On land and sea I strove with anxious care
Last Line: To escape conscription. It was in the air!
Subject(s): Military Service, Compulsory; World War I; Conscription; Military Draft; Selective Service; First World War


EPITAPHS OF THE WAR, 1914-18: COMMON FORM, by RUDYARD KIPLING    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: If any question why we died
Last Line: Tell them, because our fathers lied.
Subject(s): War; World War I; First World War


EPITAPHS OF THE WAR, 1914-18: CONVOY ESCORT, by RUDYARD KIPLING    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: I was a shepherd to fools
Last Line: Yet they escaped. For I stayed.
Subject(s): Naval Convoys; World War I; First World War


EPITAPHS OF THE WAR, 1914-18: HINDU SEPOY IN FRANCE, by RUDYARD KIPLING    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: This man in his own country prayed we know not to what powers
Last Line: We pray them to reward him for his bravery in ours.
Subject(s): Courage; Hinduism; Prayer; Religion; World War I; Valor; Bravery; Theology; First World War


EPITAPHS OF THE WAR, 1914-18: JOURNALISTS; ON A PANEL ..., by RUDYARD KIPLING    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: We have served our day
Last Line: We have served our day.
Subject(s): Newspapers; World War I; Journalism; Journalists; First World War


EPITAPHS OF THE WAR, 1914-18: R.A.F. (AGED EIGHTEEN), by RUDYARD KIPLING    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Laughing through clouds, his milk-teeth still unshed
Subject(s): Air Warfare; Labor & Laborers; Teenagers; World War I; Work; Workers; First World War


EPITAPHS OF THE WAR, 1914-18: SALONIKAN GRAVE, by RUDYARD KIPLING    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: I have watched a thousand days
Subject(s): Graves; Greece; World War I; Tombs; Tombstones; Greeks; First World War


EPITAPHS OF THE WAR, 1914-18: THE BEGINNER, by RUDYARD KIPLING    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: On the first hour of my first day
Last Line: Stand up to watch it well.)
Subject(s): Death; War; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


EPITAPHS OF THE WAR, 1914-18: THE COWARD, by RUDYARD KIPLING    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: I could not look on death, which being known
Last Line: Men led me to him, blindfold and alone.
Subject(s): Cowardice; War; World War I; First World War


EPITAPHS OF THE WAR, 1914-18: THE REFINED MAN, by RUDYARD KIPLING    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: I was of delicate mind. I stepped aside for my needs
Subject(s): War; World War I; First World War


EPITAPHS OF THE WAR, 1914-18: THE SLEEPY SENTINEL, by RUDYARD KIPLING    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Faithless the watch that I kept: now I
Subject(s): Sleep; World War I; First World War


EPITAPHS OF THE WAR, 1914-18: UNKNOWN FEMALE CORPSE, by RUDYARD KIPLING    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Headless, lacking foot and hand
Subject(s): Corpses; Women; World War I; Cadavers; First World War


ESCAPE, by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: There are four officers, this message says
Last Line: Find mr. Wrestman.
Alternate Author Name(s): Blunden, Edmund
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


ESCAPE, by ROBERT RANKE GRAVES    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: But I was dead, an hour or more
Last Line: O life! O sun!
Subject(s): Death; Escapes; World War I; Dead, The; Fugitives; First World War


EUROPE IS HUNGRY, by FRANK WILMOT    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Tis easier to be just than generous
Last Line: And thank the gods for these grim lessons learned.
Alternate Author Name(s): Maurice, Furnley
Subject(s): Hunger; World War I; First World War


EVERYONE SANG, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Everyone suddenly burst out singing
Last Line: Was a bird; and the song was wordless; the singing will never be done.
Subject(s): Holidays; Life Change Events; Veterans Day; War; World War I; First World War


EXPECTANS EXPECTAVI, by CHARLES HAMILTON SORLEY    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: From morn to midnight, all day through
Last Line: To thy great service dedicate.
Subject(s): Religion; Soldiers' Writings; World War I; Theology; First World War


EXPOSURE, by WILFRED OWEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis         Recitation     Poet's Biography
First Line: Our brains ache, in the merciless iced east winds that knive us
Last Line: But nothing happens.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


FAITH, by ROBERT WILLIAM SERVICE    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Since all that is was ever bound to be
Last Line: The gleam, the glory of the golden age.
Subject(s): Faith; War; World War I; Belief; Creed; First World War


FAMILIAR LETTERS TO SIEGFRIED SASSOON, by ROBERT RANKE GRAVES    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: I never dreamed we'd meet that day / in our old haunts down fricourt way
Last Line: And god! What poetry we'll write!
Subject(s): Sassoon, Siegfried (1886-1967); World War I; First World War


FATHER O'SHEA WAS HIS REGIMENT'S PRIDE, by AMELIA JOSEPHINE BURR    Poem Text                    
First Line: Father o'shea was his regiments pride
Last Line: "and send him a padre like father o'shea!"
Subject(s): Clergy; World War I; Priests; Rabbis; Ministers; Bishops; First World War


FESTUBERT: THE OLD GERMAN LINE, by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Sparse mists of moonlight hurt our eyes
Last Line: The gray rags fluttered on the dead.
Alternate Author Name(s): Blunden, Edmund
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


FIELD AMBULANCE IN RETREAT; VIA DOLOROSA, VIA SACRA, by MAY SINCLAIR    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: A straight flagged road, laid on the rough earth
Last Line: On the sacred, dolorous way.
Subject(s): Travel; Women; World War I; Journeys; Trips; First World War


FIELD MANOEUVRES, by RICHARD ALDINGTON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: The long autumn grass under my body
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


FIFTY FAGGOTS, by PHILIP EDWARD THOMAS    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: There they stand, on their ends, the fifty faggots
Last Line: Foresee or more control than robin and wren.
Alternate Author Name(s): Eastaway, Edward; Thomas, Edward
Subject(s): Environment; Trees; World War I; Environmental Protection; Ecology; Conservation; First World War


FIGHT, by CARL SANDBURG    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Red drips from my chin where I have been eating
Last Line: The child cries for a suck mother and I cry for war.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


FIGHT TO A FINISH, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: The boys came back. Bands played and flags were flying
Last Line: To clear those junkers out of parliament.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


FIVE SOULS, by WILLIAM NORMAN EWER    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: I was a peasant of the polish plain
Last Line: For those who bade me fight had told me so.
Alternate Author Name(s): Ewer, W. N.
Subject(s): Holidays; Veterans Day; World War I; First World War


FLANDERS NOW, by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: There, where before no master action struck
Last Line: Of glory save the light in a friend's eye.
Alternate Author Name(s): Blunden, Edmund
Subject(s): Flanders, Belgium; World War I; First World War


FLOWER OF YOUTH, by KATHARINE TYNAN    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Lest heaven be thronged with grey-beards hoary
Last Line: "and say: ""thank god, he has enough!"
Alternate Author Name(s): Hinkson, Katharine Tynan
Subject(s): God; Heaven; World War I; Youth; Paradise; First World War


FOR POETS SLAIN IN WAR, by WALTER ADOLPHE ROBERTS    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Happy the poets who fell in magnificent ways!
Last Line: Splendidly dead for the patria, splendidly dead!
Subject(s): Poetry & Poets; World War I; First World War


FOR THE BLINDED SOLDIERS, by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: We that look on, with god's goodwill
Last Line: We that look on?
Alternate Author Name(s): Dobson, Austin
Subject(s): Blindness; World War I; Visually Handicapped; First World War


FRAGMENT, by RUPERT BROOKE    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: I strayed about the deck, an hour, tonight
Last Line: To other ghosts - this one, or that, or I.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


FRANCE, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: She triumphs, in the vivid green
Last Line: Voices of victory and delight.
Subject(s): France; Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


FROM A TRENCH, by MAUD ANNA BELL    Poem Text                    
First Line: Out here the dogs of war run loose
Last Line: Because we're here in hell.
Subject(s): Women & War; World War I; First World War


FROM MY DIARY, JULY 1914, by WILFRED OWEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Leaves / murmuring by myriads in the shimmering trees
Last Line: Expanding with the starr'd nocturnal flowers.
Subject(s): Diaries; Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


FROM THE YOUTH OF ALL NATIONS, by H. C. HARWOOD    Poem Text                    
First Line: Think not, my elders, to rejoice
Last Line: And swift usurping dynasties.
Subject(s): Death; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


FRONT LINE, by WILLIAM ROSE BENET    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Standing on the fire-step
Last Line: And peered into the black.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


FULFILLMENT, by ROBERT MALISE BOWYER NICHOLS    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Was there love once? I have forgotten her
Last Line: All, all my joy, my grief, my love, are thine.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


FUNK, by ROBERT WILLIAM SERVICE    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: When your marrer bone seems 'oller
Last Line: There ain't no bloomin' funk, funk, funk.
Subject(s): Death; War; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


FUTILITY, by WILFRED OWEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis         Recitation     Poet's Biography
First Line: Move him into the sun
Last Line: To break earth's sleep at all?
Subject(s): Death; Love; Mourning; Soldiers' Writings; World War I; Dead, The; Bereavement; First World War


G. A. R. TO A. E. F., by AMOS RUSSEL WELLS    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Hope and promise of the nation
Last Line: You who fight to save the world!
Subject(s): Army - United States; World War I; First World War


GERMAN PRISONERS, by JOSEPH LEE    Poem Text                    
First Line: When first I saw you in the curious street
Last Line: "and could have grasped your hand and cried, ""my brother!"
Subject(s): Brotherhood; Prisoners Of War; Religion; Soldiers' Writings; World War I; Theology; First World War


GHELUVELT; EPITAPH ON THE WORCESTERS, by ROBERT SEYMOUR BRIDGES    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Askest thou of these graves? They'll tell thee
Last Line: Battle.
Alternate Author Name(s): Bridges, Robert+(2)
Subject(s): Graves; Worcestershire, England; World War I; Tombs; Tombstones; First World War


GIRL TO SOLDIER ON LEAVE, by ISAAC ROSENBERG    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: I love you, titan lover
Last Line: I let you -- I repine.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; Women & War; World War I; First World War


GLORY OF WOMEN, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis         Recitation     Poet's Biography
First Line: You love us when we're heroes, home on leave
Last Line: His face is trodden deeper in the mud.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; Women; World War I; First World War


GOD AND MY COUNTRY, by EDGAR LEE MASTERS    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: He had the bluest eyes I ever saw
Last Line: "to get some cigarettes and some shaving blades."
Subject(s): Fathers & Sons; Soldiers; World War I; First World War


GOD SAVE THE WORLD; A MARCHING SONG OF THE WORLD WAR, by AMOS RUSSEL WELLS    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Now for the world we dare to fight
Last Line: God save the world!
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


GOD'S CHALLENGERS; A SOLDIERS' HOSPITAL, by MARION PERHAM GALE    Poem Text                    
First Line: Today, I have seen / mute ghosts of men
Last Line: What did we do it for?
Subject(s): Death; God; Soldiers; Tragedy; War; War Injuries; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


GOD'S HILLS, by WILLIAM NOEL HODGSON    Poem Text     Poem Explanation                 Poet's Biography
First Line: In our hill-country of the north
Last Line: And we shall see the hills again.
Alternate Author Name(s): Melbourne, Edward
Subject(s): Homesickness; Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


GODS OF WAR, 1914, by GEORGE WILLIAM RUSSELL    Poem Text     Poem Explanation                 Poet's Biography
First Line: Fate wafts us from the pygmies' shore
Last Line: And crown thee then without a thorn.
Alternate Author Name(s): A. E.
Subject(s): Jesus Christ; War; World War I; First World War


GOING HOME, by ROBERT WILLIAM SERVICE    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: I'm goin' 'ome to blighty - ain't I glad to 'ave the chance!
Last Line: Thank gawd for dear old blighty in the mawnin'.
Subject(s): Army - Great Britain; England; War; World War I; English; First World War


GOING TO THE FRONT, by HARDWICKE DRUMMOND RAWNSLEY    Poem Text                    
First Line: I had no heart to march for war
Last Line: How sweet to live—how glad and good to die!
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


GOLGOTHA, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Through darkness curves a spume of falling flares
Last Line: But the brown rats, the nimble scavengers.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


GOLIATH AND DAVID, by ROBERT RANKE GRAVES    Poem Text     Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Yet once an earlier david took
Last Line: Goliath straddles over him.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


GOUZEAUCOURT: THE DECEITFUL CALM, by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: How unpurposed, how inconsequential
Last Line: That false mildness.
Alternate Author Name(s): Blunden, Edmund
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


GRAND ILLUSION, by NORMAN DUBIE    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: It is not 1937 for long. A clump of ash trees and a walk
Last Line: Their uncle still casting images of animals for them...
Subject(s): Motion Pictures; Renoir, Jean (1894-19979); Violence; World War I; Movies; Cinema; First World War


GRAND-PERE, by ROBERT WILLIAM SERVICE    Poem Text         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


GREAT DAYS, by CHARLES WILLIAM BRODRIBB    Poem Text                    
First Line: Vanish, every idle thought!
Last Line: Giant hearts shall rule these days.
Subject(s): Death; Graves; World War I; Dead, The; Tombs; Tombstones; First World War


GREAT, STRONG, FREE, AND TRUE, by AMOS RUSSEL WELLS    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Great, my country, great in gold
Last Line: Ever true to god and man.
Subject(s): United States; World War I; America; First World War


GREATER LOVE, by WILFRED OWEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis         Recitation     Poet's Biography
First Line: Red lips are not so red
Last Line: Weep, you may weep, for you may touch them not.
Subject(s): Love; Pain; Soldiers' Writings; World War I; Suffering; Misery; First World War


GREATER THAN VICTORY, by WILLIAM A. PHELON    Poem Text                    
First Line: Quickly the war-smoke lessens-out through the clearing skies
Last Line: "but the greatest thing of all is this: ""no more of our boys shall die!"
Subject(s): Death; Soldiers; Victory; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


GREY KNITTING, by AMELIA BEERS WARNOCK GARVIN    Poem Text                    
First Line: Something sings gently through the din of battle
Last Line: As they fall fast asleep.
Alternate Author Name(s): Hale, Katherine
Subject(s): Women & War; World War I; First World War


GUNS OF VERDUN, by PATRICK REGINALD CHALMERS    Poem Text                    
First Line: Guns of verdun point to metz
Last Line: "gunners lay you east again!"
Subject(s): Verdun, Battle Of (1916); World War I; First World War


HAIG IS MOVING; AUGUST, 1918, by ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Haig is moving
Last Line: Haig is moving!
Subject(s): England; Haig, Douglas. 1st Earl Haig (1861-1928); World War I; English; First World War


HARVARD DECLARES WAR, by BRENT DOW ALLINSON    Poem Text                    
First Line: Hang out the flags!' the college president said
Last Line: Thy hallowed ivied walls with strands of sable crepe!
Subject(s): Death; Harvard University; Soldiers; War; World War I; World War Ii; Dead, The; First World War; Second World War


HARVEST MOON: 1914, by JOSEPHINE PRESTON PEABODY    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Over the twilight field
Last Line: The harvest-moon.
Alternate Author Name(s): Marks, Lionel S., Mrs.
Subject(s): Harvest; Moon; Women; World War I; First World War


HARVEST MOON: 1916, by JOSEPHINE PRESTON PEABODY    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Moon, slow rising, over the trembling sea-rim
Last Line: Light, everlasting.)
Alternate Author Name(s): Marks, Lionel S., Mrs.
Subject(s): Harvest; Moon; Women; World War I; First World War


HAUTE POLITIQUE, by GRANVILLE TRACE    Poem Text                    
First Line: Driven to achievement by youth and love
Last Line: Two bodies drift.
Alternate Author Name(s): Chen Wei Lu
Subject(s): Brotherhood; Death; Patriotism; Soldiers; War; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


HE WENT FOR A SOLDIER, by RUTH COMFORT MITCHELL    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: He marched away with a blithe young score of him
Last Line: Borne with the hell called war!
Alternate Author Name(s): Young, Sanborn, Mrs.
Subject(s): Death; Life Change Events; Loss; Soldiers; Women; World War I; Youth; Dead, The; First World War


HEADQUARTERS, by GILBERT FRANKAU    Poem Text                    
First Line: A league and a league from the trenches - from the traversed maze of the lines
Last Line: "the blaze of some woman's roses. ... ""bombardment orders, sir."
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


HENRI, by GEORGE STERLING    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Tonight I drifted to the restaurant
Last Line: I never asked you if you had a wife.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


HERE IS MUSIC: SECOND-LIEUTENANT E.T.; IN MEMORRIAM, by AUSTIN PHILIPS    Poem Text                    
First Line: Sunlight and shimmering haze
Last Line: Whose bouquet works like wine.
Subject(s): Courage; Death; Fights; Honor; Patriotism; World War I; Valor; Bravery; Dead, The; First World War


HEREAFTER, by RONALD LEWIS CARTON    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: It's autumn-time on salisbury plain
Last Line: When fighting's over be there still!
Subject(s): Autumn; Seasons; Soldiers' Writings; World War I; Fall; First World War


HIGH SUMMER, by KATHARINE TYNAN    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Pinks and syringa in the garden closes
Last Line: They die in flanders to keep these for me.
Alternate Author Name(s): Hinkson, Katharine Tynan
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


HILL-BORN, by ABBIE HUSTON EVANS    Poem Text                    
First Line: Back to this mould, this matrix whence I came
Last Line: Packed in the star-like crevice of a rock.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


HILL-BORN, by WILFRID WILSON GIBSON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: I sometimes wonder if it's really true
Last Line: On the green ridges of the windy gile.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


HILLS OF HOME, by MALCOLM HEMPHREY    Poem Text                    
First Line: Oh! Yon hills are filled with sunlight
Last Line: And my heart is throbbing wildly for those distant hills of home.
Subject(s): Homesickness; Mountains; Soldiers' Writings; World War I; Hills; Downs (great Britain); First World War


HIS FOOTSTEP, by KATHARINE TYNAN    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: The boy will come no more
Last Line: Like an old tune.
Alternate Author Name(s): Hinkson, Katharine Tynan
Subject(s): Death; Feet; Footprints; Homecoming; Loss; War; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


HIS MOTHER SPEAKS!, by BLANCHE OLIN TWISS    Poem Text                    
First Line: He died in france!
Last Line: Thank god -- he fought them all, and fighting died!
Subject(s): Death; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


HODGE, by ROBERT SEYMOUR BRIDGES    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Countryman hodge has gone to fight
Last Line: And hodge will come to his own again.'
Alternate Author Name(s): Bridges, Robert+(2)
Subject(s): Plowing & Plowmen; World War I; First World War


HOME, by FRANCIS LEDWIDGE    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: A burst of sudden wings at dawn
Last Line: That call across the world to me.
Subject(s): Home; Ireland; Rainbows; Summer; World War I; Irish; First World War


HOME THOUGHTS FROM FRANCE, by ISAAC ROSENBERG    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Wan, fragile faces of joy
Last Line: My heart with futile bounds.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


HOME THOUGHTS IN [OR, FROM] LAVENTIE, by EDWARD WYNDHAM TENNANT    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Green gardens in laventie
Last Line: Home, what a perfect place!
Subject(s): England; Homesickness; Soldiers' Writings; World War I; English; First World War


HOMES, by MARGARET WIDDEMER    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: The lamplight's shaded rose
Last Line: That were a home last night.
Alternate Author Name(s): Schauffler, Mrs. Robert H.
Subject(s): Home; Women And War; World War I; First World War


HOMES, AFTER THE WAR, by AMOS RUSSEL WELLS    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: In the battles, the frenzy, the dread
Last Line: As we welcome our heroes home.
Subject(s): Homecoming; World War I; First World War


HOMING BRAVES, by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: There's music in the measured tread
Last Line: Stand in the pathway of their dreams!
Alternate Author Name(s): Tremaine, John
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


HORSE-BATHING PARADE, by W. KERSLEY HOLMES    Poem Text                    
First Line: A few clouds float across the grand blue sky
Last Line: And hear the surf rush hissing up the sand.
Subject(s): Animals; Horses; Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


HOSPITAL HEROES, by AMOS RUSSEL WELLS    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Not in the glory of battles
Last Line: Theirs be a lasting fame!
Subject(s): Health; Heroism; Hospitals; World War I; Heroes; Heroines; First World War


HOW TO DIE, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Dark clouds are smouldering into red
Last Line: With due regard for decent taste.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


HUGH SELWYN MAUBERLEY: 4, by EZRA POUND    Poem Text         Poet Analysis         Recitation by Author     Poet's Biography
First Line: These fought in any case
Last Line: Laughter out of dead bellies.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


HUGH SELWYN MAUBERLEY: 5, by EZRA POUND    Poem Text         Poet Analysis         Recitation by Author     Poet's Biography
First Line: There died a myriad
Last Line: For a few thousand battered books.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


I HATE THE MOON, by ROBERT RANKE GRAVES    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: I hate the moon, though it makes most people glad
Last Line: And I know one day it'll do me some dreadful thing.
Subject(s): Moon; World War I; First World War


I PAY MY DEBT FOR LAFAYETTE AND ROCHAMBEAU', by EDGAR LEE MASTERS    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Eagle, whose fearless
Last Line: Love frees the world!...
Subject(s): France; Freedom; Rockwell, Kiffin Yates (1892-1916); World War I; Liberty; First World War


I STOOD WITH THE DEAD, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: I stood with the dead, so forsaken and still
Last Line: Fall in!' I shouted; 'fall in for your pay!'
Subject(s): Army Life; World War I; Drills & Minor Tactics; First World War


IF WE MUST DIE, by CLAUDE MCKAY    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: If we must die, let it not be like hogs
Last Line: Pressed to the wall, dying, but fighting back!
Alternate Author Name(s): Edwards, Eli
Subject(s): African Americans; Courage; Death; Honor; Social Protest; World War I; Negroes; American Blacks; Valor; Bravery; Dead, The; First World War


II PETER II 22, by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Hark, the new year succeeds the dead
Last Line: The heights which crowned a deadlier year.
Alternate Author Name(s): Blunden, Edmund
Subject(s): Time; World War I; First World War


ILLUSIONS, by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Trenches in the moonlight, in the lulling moonlight
Last Line: For the moon's interpretation.
Alternate Author Name(s): Blunden, Edmund
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


IN A CAFE, by FRANCIS LEDWIDGE    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Kiss the maid and pass her round
Last Line: Their hearts at peace, their god above them.
Subject(s): Restaurants; Soldiers; World War I; Cafes; Diners; First World War


IN A TIME OF WAR: 1. COUNTER OR CAMP. AUGUST 1914, by THOMAS STURGE MOORE    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Counter or camp, which of the two rules worst?
Last Line: And still explores the universe with awe.
Alternate Author Name(s): Moore, T. Sturge
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


IN A TIME OF WAR: 2. THE WOUNDED, by THOMAS STURGE MOORE    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Cancelled the fair-planned life
Last Line: Who grasp the incalculable, being dead.
Alternate Author Name(s): Moore, T. Sturge
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


IN A TIME OF WAR: 3. THE DESECRATED DREAM, by THOMAS STURGE MOORE    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: With every mighty nation now at war
Last Line: Still seeks worse ways to slay and to be slain.
Alternate Author Name(s): Moore, T. Sturge
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


IN A TIME OF WAR: 4. AFTER THE ARMISTICE (NOVEMBER 1918), by THOMAS STURGE MOORE    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Psyche has fouled both hands in blood and clay
Last Line: Then turned to cleaner work, shall she rejoice.
Alternate Author Name(s): Moore, T. Sturge
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


IN BARRACKS, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: The barrack-square, washed clean with rain
Last Line: Another night; another day.'
Subject(s): Army Life; Soldiers' Writings; World War I; Drills & Minor Tactics; First World War


IN FESTUBERT, by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Now every thing that shadowy thought
Last Line: And sear no more with second sight.
Alternate Author Name(s): Blunden, Edmund
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


IN FLANDERS, by JAMES NORMAN HALL    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Could you have seen them marching
Last Line: To see ten thousand fighting men.
Subject(s): Flanders, Belgium; Reality; Social Protest; Soldiers; War; World War I; First World War


IN FLANDERS FIELD: AN ANSWER, by C. B. GALBREATH    Poem Text                    
First Line: In flanders fields the cannon boom
Last Line: In flanders fields.
Subject(s): Flanders, Belgium; World War I; First World War


IN FLANDERS FIELDS, by JOHN MCCRAE    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: In flanders fields the poppies blow / between the crosses, row on row
Last Line: In flanders fields.
Subject(s): Environment; Fields; Flanders, Belgium; Freedom; Patriotism; Soldiers; World War I; Environmental Protection; Ecology; Conservation; Pastures; Meadows; Leas; Liberty; First World War


IN FRANCE, by THOMAS AUGUSTINE DALY    Poem Text                    
First Line: We're done wid the thransport. Thank heaven we're here!
Last Line: "oh, meester jeem newell, please do eet som' more!"
Alternate Author Name(s): Daly, T. A.
Subject(s): Soldiers; World War I; First World War


IN GALLIPOLI, by EDEN PHILLPOTTS    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: There is a fold of lion-coloured earth
Last Line: Beside her hero sons, beneath the field and foam.
Subject(s): Gallipoli Campaign (1915); World War I; First World War


IN MEMORIAM (EASTER 1915), by PHILIP EDWARD THOMAS    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: The flowers left thick at nightfall in the wood
Last Line: Have gathered them and will do never again.
Alternate Author Name(s): Eastaway, Edward; Thomas, Edward
Subject(s): Easter; Holidays; Soldiers; War; World War I; The Resurrection; First World War


IN MEMORIAM, A.H., by MAURICE BARING    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: The wind had blown away the rain
Last Line: Among the very brave, the very true.
Variant Title(s): Udite, Si Dolgono Mesti Fringuelli
Subject(s): Death; Friendship; Herbert, Auberon Thomas (1876-1916); Memory; Patriotism; World War I; Dead, The; Lucas, 8th Baron; Dingwall, 11th Baron; First World War


IN NEXT YEAR'S SUMMER TIME, by WILLIAM A. PHELON    Poem Text                    
First Line: I'm home. Yes. And safe. I should give
Last Line: And I want to go back to that place!
Subject(s): Brotherhood; Death; Friendship; Grief; Soldiers; World War I; Dead, The; Sorrow; Sadness; First World War


IN THE AMBULANCE, by WILFRID WILSON GIBSON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Two rows of cabbages
Last Line: "two of kidney-beans."
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


IN THE CITY SQUARE, by THOMAS ERNEST HULME    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: In the city square at night, the meeting of the torches
Last Line: To where?
Alternate Author Name(s): Hulme, T. E.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


IN THE DORDOGNE, by JOHN PEALE BISHOP    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: We stood up before day
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


IN THE MEDITERRANEAN - GOING TO THE WAR, by FRANCIS LEDWIDGE    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Lovely wings of gold and green
Last Line: In my heart a newer song.
Subject(s): Mediterranean Sea; World War I; First World War


IN THE MORNING (LOOS, 1915), by PATRICK MACGILL    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: The firefly haunts were lighted yet
Last Line: In the town of loos in the morning.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


IN THE PINK', by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: So davies wrote: 'this leaves me in the pink'
Last Line: And still the war goes on -- he don't know why.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


IN THE TRENCHES, by RICHARD ALDINGTON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Not that we are weary
Last Line: And crush the spring leaf with your armies!
Subject(s): Military; Soldiers; War; World War I; First World War


IN THE TRENCHES, by MAURICE HENRY HEWLETT    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: As I lay in the trenches
Last Line: With heart as full as mine.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


IN THE TRENCHES, by ISAAC ROSENBERG    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: I snatched two poppies
Last Line: Strewn. Smashed you lie.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


IN TIME OF 'THE BREAKING OF NATIONS', by THOMAS HARDY    Poem Text     Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Only a man harrowing clods / in a slow silent walk
Last Line: Ere their story die.
Subject(s): Bible; Country Life; Religion; World War I; Theology; First World War


IN TIME OF WAR I SING, by ALLEN CRAFTON    Poem Text                    
First Line: I sing of song! Of spontaneity
Last Line: I find my song within the world's soul -- crowned.
Subject(s): Singing & Singers; World War I; Songs; First World War


IN TIME OF WARS AND TUMULTS, by THOMAS HARDY    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Would that I'd not drawn breath here!' some one said
Last Line: By empery's insatiate lust of power.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


IN WAR, by ISAAC ROSENBERG    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Fret the nonchalant noon
Last Line: My brother, our hearts and years.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


IN WAR-TIME (AN AMERICAN HOMEWARD-BOUND), by FLORENCE EARLE COATES    Poem Text                    
First Line: Further and further we leave the scene
Last Line: Or hasten back?
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


INACCESSIBILITY IN THE BATTLEFIELD, by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Forgotten streams, yet wishful to be known
Last Line: The rampart where the sleepless phantom strode.
Alternate Author Name(s): Blunden, Edmund
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


INSENSIBILITY, by WILFRED OWEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Happy are men who yet before they are killed
Last Line: The eternal reciprocity of tears.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


INSOUCIANCE, by RICHARD ALDINGTON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: In and out of the dreary trenches
Last Line: They fly away like white-winged doves
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


INTERLUDE (IN WAR-TIME), by ROBERT UNDERWOOD JOHNSON    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: I thought that war held all my mind
Last Line: As lasting memory of the storm.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


INTO BATTLE, by JULIAN GRENFELL    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: The naked earth is warm with spring
Last Line: And night shall fold him soft wings.
Variant Title(s): He Is Dead Who Will Not Fight
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


INTO THE SALIENT, by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Sallows like heads in polynesia
Last Line: Into seven days of country where you come out any door.
Alternate Author Name(s): Blunden, Edmund
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


INTRODUCTION AND CONCLUSION OF A LONG POEM, by ALAN SEEGER    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: I have gone sometimes by the gates of death
Last Line: My resurrection, this my recompense!
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


INVOCATION, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Come down from heaven to meet me when my breath
Last Line: And stillness from the pools of paradise.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


IRON, by CARL SANDBURG    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Guns
Last Line: The shovel is brother to the gun.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


IT'S A QUEER TIME, by ROBERT RANKE GRAVES    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: It's hard to know if you're alive or dead
Last Line: It's a queer time.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


ITALIA REDENTA; ON HEARING ITALIAN FLAG FLYING OVER TRENT & TRIESTE, by ROBERT UNDERWOOD JOHNSON    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Till yesterday 'twas 'italy unredeemed.'
Last Line: "italia redenta."
Subject(s): Italy; World War I; Italians; First World War


ITALY - 1915, by GEORGE SYLVESTER VIERECK    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Tear from thy brow the olive wreath!
Last Line: Of england's strumpet, italy!
Subject(s): Italy; World War I; Italians; First World War


JANUARY FULL MOON, YPRES, by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Vantaged snow on the gray pilasters
Last Line: To someone crunching through the frozen snows.
Alternate Author Name(s): Blunden, Edmund
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


JAWS, by CARL SANDBURG    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Seven nations stood with their hands on the jaws of
Last Line: "o hell!"
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


JEAN DESPREZ, by ROBERT WILLIAM SERVICE    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Oh, ye whose hearts are resonant, and ring to war's romance
Last Line: Then jean desprez reached out and shot . . . The prussian major dead!
Subject(s): Death; War; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


JEZREEL; ON ITS SEIZURE BY THE ENGLISH UNDER ALLENBY, 1918, by THOMAS HARDY    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Did they catch as it were in a vision at shut of day
Last Line: Yea, strange things and spectral may men have beheld in jezreel!
Subject(s): Allenby, Edmund Henry Hynman (1861-1936); Jezreel, Israel; Soldiers; World War I; Allenby Of Megiddo, First Viscount; First World War


JIMMY DOANE, by ROWLAND THIRLMERE    Poem Text                    
First Line: Often I think of you, jimmy doane
Last Line: Your vision upbuilt as a deathless fact.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


JOY-BELLS, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Ring your sweet bells; but let them be farewells
Last Line: Shoulder to shoulder with the motor-bus.
Subject(s): Bells; Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


KAISER AND COUNSELLOR, by STUART PRATT SHERMAN    Poem Text                    
First Line: Through what dark pass to what place in the sun
Last Line: Still draws all hearts unto its wounded side.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


KEEP THE FLAG WAVING, JACK!, by AMOS RUSSEL WELLS    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Only a boy, but never you mind!
Last Line: God bless our boys!
Subject(s): Boys; Sea Battles; World War I; Naval Warfare; First World War


KILLERS (1), by CARL SANDBURG    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: I am singing to you
Last Line: Sixteen million men.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


KILMENY (A SONG OF THE TRAWLERS), by ALFRED NOYES    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Dark, dark lay the drifters against the red west
Last Line: And nobody knew where kilmeny had been.
Subject(s): Ships & Shipping; World War I; First World War


KINGS, by ALFRED JOYCE KILMER    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: The kings of the earth are men of might
Last Line: Let them think of him to-day!
Alternate Author Name(s): Kilmer, Joyce
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


LA QUINQUE RUE, by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: O road in dizzy moonlight bleak and blue
Last Line: To trim roofs and cropped fields; the error's mine.
Alternate Author Name(s): Blunden, Edmund
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


LAMENT, by WILFRID WILSON GIBSON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: We who are left, how shall we look again
Last Line: Nor feel the heart-break in the heart of things?
Subject(s): Peace; World War I; First World War


LAMENTATIONS, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: I found him in the guard-room at the base
Last Line: Such men have lost all patriotic feeling.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; War; World War I; First World War


LAST POEMS: SONNET 1, by ALAN SEEGER    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Sidney, in whom the heyday of romance
Last Line: To my three idols -- love and arms and song.
Variant Title(s): Sonnet To Sidney
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


LAST POEMS: SONNET 10, by ALAN SEEGER    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: I have sought happiness, but it has been
Last Line: Amid the clash of arms I was at peace.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


LAST POEMS: SONNET 11. ON RETURNING TO THE FRONT AFTER LEAVE, by ALAN SEEGER    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Apart sweet women (for whom heaven be blessed)
Last Line: That world of cowards, hypocrites, and fools.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


LAST POEMS: SONNET 8, by ALAN SEEGER    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Oh, love of woman, you are known to be
Last Line: Love only tells it what true torture is.
Subject(s): Love; Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


LENGTH OF DAYS (TO THE EARLY DEAD IN BATTLE), by ALICE MEYNELL    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: There is no length of days
Last Line: There dwelt antiquity.
Alternate Author Name(s): Meynell, Wilfrid, Mrs.; Thompson, Alice Christina
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


LES HALLES D'YPRES, by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: A tangle of iron rods and spluttered beams
Last Line: And flicker in playful flight.
Alternate Author Name(s): Blunden, Edmund
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


LETTER TO AN AVIATOR IN FRANCE, by GRACE HAZARD CONKLING    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: A slope of summer sprinkled over
Last Line: And sunset roses are in bloom.
Subject(s): Aviation & Aviators; World War I; Airplanes; Air Pilots; First World War


LETTRES D'UN SOLDAT (1914-1915), by WALLACE STEVENS    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: No introspective chaos -- I accept
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


LIEBSTOD, by ALAN SEEGER    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: I who, conceived beneath another star
Last Line: Our manhood faultless and our honor clean.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


LIGHT AFTER DARKNESS, by EDWARD WYNDHAM TENNANT    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Once more the night, like some great dark drop-scene
Last Line: The broken heralds of a doleful day.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


LIGHTS OUT, by PHILIP EDWARD THOMAS    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: I have come to the borders of sleep
Alternate Author Name(s): Eastaway, Edward; Thomas, Edward
Subject(s): Life Change Events; Sleep; World War I; First World War


LIKE MEN OF OLD, by WILLIAM A. PHELON    Poem Text                    
First Line: There was three of them trapped in an old chateau
Last Line: Of the dead men three who had held them hard till the flag came over the hill!
Subject(s): Native Americans; World War I; Indians Of America; American Indians; Indians Of South America; First World War


LIMBO, by ROBERT RANKE GRAVES    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: After a week spent under raining skies, / in horror, mud and sleeplessness a wee
Last Line: Draw the plough leisurely in quiet courses.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


LINES FOR THE HOUR, by HAMILTON FISH ARMSTRONG    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: If what we fought for seems not worth the fighting
Last Line: Knowing the slow mutations of the soul.
Subject(s): Peace; World War I; First World War


LINES WRITTEN IN A FIRE-TRENCH, by WALTER SCOTT STUART LYON    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Tis midnight, and above the hollow trench
Last Line: The tense, packed faces in the black redoubt.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


LOSERS, by CARL SANDBURG    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: If I should pass the tomb of jonah
Last Line: "come on, you ... Do you want to live forever?"
Subject(s): Courage; World War I; Valor; Bravery; First World War


LOUSE HUNTING, by ISAAC ROSENBERG    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Nudes - stark and glistening
Last Line: Blown from sleep's trumpet.
Subject(s): Army Life; Soldiers' Writings; World War I; Drills & Minor Tactics; First World War


LOVE AND YOUTH AND WAR, by DERRICK NORMAN LEHMER    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Love and youth to the war they sent
Last Line: When love and youth to the war have gone?
Subject(s): Hate; Love; Murder; Social Protest; Soldiers; War; World War I; Youth; First World War


MAGNA CARTA, by PERCY MACKAYE    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Magna carta! Magna carta!
Last Line: English brothers, we are waiting!
Alternate Author Name(s): Mackaye, Percy Wallace
Subject(s): Great Britain - History; Magna Carta; World War I; English History; First World War


MAKTOOB, by ALAN SEEGER    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: A shell surprised our post one day
Last Line: And wisdom of the east.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


MARCHING (AS SEEN FROM THE LEFT FILE), by ISAAC ROSENBERG    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: My eyes catch ruddy necks
Last Line: On strong eyes.
Subject(s): Soldiers; Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


MARCHING SONG, by DANA BURNET    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: When pershing's men go marching into picardy
Last Line: And pershing's men are marching, marching into picardy.
Subject(s): Army - United States; World War I; First World War


MARE LIBERUM, by HENRY VAN DYKE    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: You dare to say with perjured lips
Last Line: Till liberty is safe on sea and shore.
Alternate Author Name(s): Civis Americanus
Subject(s): Lusitania (ship); Patriotism; Submarines; World War I; Submarine Warfare; U-boats; First World War


MARK TWAIN AND JOAN OF ARC, by NICHOLAS VACHEL LINDSAY    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: When yankee soldiers reach the barricade
Last Line: At bloodshed caused by angels, saints, and men.
Alternate Author Name(s): Lindsay, Vachel
Subject(s): Twain, Mark (samuel Langhorne Clemens); World War I; First World War


MATEY (CAMBRIN, MAY 1915), by PATRICK MACGILL    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Not comin' back tonight, matey
Last Line: But gawd! It went through me 'eart.
Subject(s): Brotherhood; Death; Grief; Soldiers; War; World War I; Dead, The; Sorrow; Sadness; First World War


MAY, 1915, by CHARLOTTE MEW    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Let us remember spring will come again
Last Line: At one with love, at one with grief: blind to the scattered things and changing skies.
Subject(s): Spring; Women; World War I; First World War


MCMXIV [1914], by PHILIP LARKIN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Those long uneven lines
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


MEDITATION, by KATHARINE TYNAN    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: If thou, lord god, willest to judge
Last Line: Thee, the high judge, and their sin.
Alternate Author Name(s): Hinkson, Katharine Tynan
Subject(s): God; Jesus Christ; Prayer; War; World War I; First World War


MEMOIR, by CARL SANDBURG    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Papa joffre, the shoulders of him wide as the land of france
Last Line: A lift of white sun on a stony beach.
Subject(s): Joffre, Joseph Jacques (1852-1931); World War I; First World War


MEMORIAL RAIN, by ARCHIBALD MACLEISH    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Ambassador puser the ambassador
Alternate Author Name(s): Fleming, Archibald
Subject(s): Holidays; Veterans Day; World War I; First World War


MEMORIAL TABLET (GREAT WAR, 1918), by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Squire nagged and bullied till I went to fight
Last Line: What greater glory could a man desire?
Subject(s): Mourning; World War I; Bereavement; First World War


MEMORIES, by EDWARD HILTON YOUNG    Poem Text         Poet Analysis            
First Line: Far up at glorian the wind is sighing
Last Line: Nor pay the debt I owe.
Alternate Author Name(s): Kennet Of The Dene, 1st Baron
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


MEMORIES OF VERDUN, by ALAN DUGAN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: The men laughed and baaed like sheep
Last Line: They were afraid of less, its lieutenant
Subject(s): World War I; Verdun, Battle Of (1916); First World War


MEMORIES: 2, by CLAIRE MORRIS GANNON    Poem Text                    
First Line: Whenever I hear a bluebird sing
Last Line: Those glorious happy other days?
Subject(s): Memory; Wellesley College; World War I; First World War


MEMORY, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: When I was young my heart and head were light
Last Line: And silence; and the faces of my friends.
Subject(s): Nature; World War I; First World War


MEN OF VERDUN, by LAURENCE BINYON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: There are five men in the moonlight
Last Line: Is written on their flesh.
Subject(s): Verdun, Battle Of (1916); World War I; First World War


MEN WHO MARCH AWAY' (SONG OF THE SOLDIERS), by THOMAS HARDY    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: What of the faith and fire within us
Last Line: Men who march away.
Variant Title(s): Song Of The Soldiers
Subject(s): Freedom; World War I; Liberty; First World War


MENELAUS AND HELEN, by RUPERT BROOKE    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Hot through troy's ruin menelaus broke
Last Line: And paris slept on by scamander side.
Subject(s): Love - Marital; Marriage; Soldiers' Writings; Trojan War; World War I; Wedded Love; Marriage - Love; Weddings; Husbands; Wives; First World War


MENTAL CASES, by WILFRED OWEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis         Recitation     Poet's Biography
First Line: Who are these? Why sit they here in twilight?
Last Line: Pawing us who dealt them war and madness.
Subject(s): Insanity; Soldiers' Writings; War Injuries; World War I; Madness; Mental Illness; First World War


MERCHANTMEN, by CICELY FOX SMITH    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: All honour be to merchantmen
Last Line: All honour be to merchantmen while sun and moon do shine!
Subject(s): Merchants; World War I; First World War


MILITARY NECESSITY, by JOSEPHINE PRESTON PEABODY    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Iscariot, never more thy stricken name
Last Line: "and they are blotted out."
Alternate Author Name(s): Marks, Lionel S., Mrs.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


MILKING TIME, by ROBERT WILLIAM SERVICE    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: There's a drip of honeysuckle in the deep green lane
Last Line: "ow bill! A rottin' frenchy. Whew! 'e ain't 'arf prime."
Subject(s): Death; War; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


MINERS, by WILFRED OWEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: There was a whispering in my hearth
Last Line: Left in the ground.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


MISERCORDIA, by AMY LOWELL    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: He earned his bread by making wooden soldiers
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


MISSIS MORIARTY'S BOY, by ROBERT WILLIAM SERVICE    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Missis moriarty called last week, and says she to me, says she
Last Line: Would I be missis moriarty, or missis moriarty me?
Subject(s): War; World War I; First World War


MONT DE CASSEL, by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Here on the sunnier scarp of the hill let us rest
Last Line: The thunder-throated cannonade booms on.
Alternate Author Name(s): Blunden, Edmund
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


MORE THAN SUSPECT, by ANDRE BRETON    Poem Text     Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: The oaks are stricken by a serious illness
Last Line: A whole throngs of general's heads
Subject(s): Dadaism; World War I; First World War


MOTHER AND MATE, by GILBERT FRANKAU    Poem Text                    
First Line: Lightly she slept, that splendid mother mine
Last Line: "that, leaving you, I left you not alone."
Subject(s): Mothers; Women & War; World War I; First World War


MOTHERS OF MEN, by AMELIA JOSEPHINE BURR    Poem Text                    
First Line: I hold no cause worth my son's life,' one said
Last Line: Her son the dreamer's cross?
Subject(s): Mothers & Sons; World War I; First World War


MOTLEY, by WALTER JOHN DE LA MARE    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Come, death, I'd have a word with thee
Last Line: Tis time thy prayers were said!
Alternate Author Name(s): Ramal, Walter; De La Mare, Walter
Variant Title(s): The Fool Rings His Bells
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


MOTLEY: PEACE, by WALTER JOHN DE LA MARE    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Night is o'er england, and the winds are still
Last Line: These bright dews once were mixed with bloody sweat.
Alternate Author Name(s): Ramal, Walter; De La Mare, Walter
Subject(s): Peace; World War I; First World War


MR. GETTHINGSDONE, by AMOS RUSSEL WELLS    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Phil ossifize is a very big man
Last Line: We need mr. Getthingsdone.
Subject(s): Activity; World War I; Exercise; First World War


MURMURINGS IN A FIELD HOSPITAL, by CARL SANDBURG    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Come to me only with playthings now
Last Line: And the world was all playthings.
Subject(s): Hospitals; World War I; First World War


MY BAY'NIT, by ROBERT WILLIAM SERVICE    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: When first I left blighty they gave me a bay'nit
Last Line: Part of me outfit every time.
Subject(s): Arms & Armor; Death; War; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


MY FOE, by ROBERT WILLIAM SERVICE    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Gurr! You cochon! Stand and fight!
Last Line: Blood-guilty in sight of god.
Subject(s): Clergy; Death; Murder; Religion; War; World War I; Priests; Rabbis; Ministers; Bishops; Dead, The; Theology; First World War


MY JOB, by ROBERT WILLIAM SERVICE    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: I've got a little job on 'and, the time is drawin' nigh
Last Line: It's seven sharp. Good-bye, old pals! . . . A decent job in dyin'.
Subject(s): Death; War; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


MY MATE, by ROBERT WILLIAM SERVICE    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: I've been sittin' starin,' starin' at 'is muddy pair of boots
Last Line: To sorter be a farther to 'is kid.
Subject(s): Death; Friendship; War; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


MY PRISONER, by ROBERT WILLIAM SERVICE    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: We was in a crump-'ole, 'im and me
Last Line: Wonders -- 'ow would 'e 'ave treated me?
Subject(s): Prisoners Of War; War; World War I; First World War


MY SON, by JAMES D. HUGHES    Poem Text                    
First Line: God gave my son in trust to me
Last Line: And cheer for him whose work is done.
Subject(s): Grief; Patriotism; World War I; Sorrow; Sadness; First World War


MY SON, by ADA TYRRELL    Poem Text                    
First Line: Here is his little cambric frock
Last Line: My son, and bring him safely back to me!
Subject(s): Fear; Military; Mothers & Sons; Reunions; Soldiers; World War I; First World War


NEARER, by ROBERT MALISE BOWYER NICHOLS    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Nearer and ever nearer
Last Line: Receive this little breath.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


NEXT MORNING, by E. ARMINE WODEHOUSE    Poem Text                    
First Line: Today the sun shines bright
Last Line: There, with the setting of the sun!
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


NIAGARA, by NICHOLAS VACHEL LINDSAY    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Within the town of buffalo
Last Line: The cataract niagara.
Alternate Author Name(s): Lindsay, Vachel
Subject(s): Buffalo (city), New York; Niagara Falls; Waterfalls; World War I; First World War


NIGHT ON THE CONVOY, ALEXANDRIA - MARSEILLES, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Out in the blustering darkness, on the deck
Last Line: We are going home ... Victims ... Three thousand souls.
Subject(s): Homecoming; Navy - Great Britain; World War I; English Navy; First World War


NIGHT ROAD, by ROBERT A. DONALDSON    Poem Text                    
First Line: A pitch-black road, and rain
Last Line: The noisy bumping of a camion train.
Subject(s): Night; Roads; War; World War I; Bedtime; Paths; Trails; First World War


NO MAN'S LAND, by JAMES HARRY KNIGHT-ADKIN    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: No man's land is an eerie sight
Last Line: Is hunting for blood in no man's land.
Subject(s): Death; Soldiers' Writings; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


NON-COMBATANTS, by EVELYN UNDERHILL    Poem Text     Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis            
First Line: Never of us be said
Last Line: We murmur not. Of us, this word shall not be said.
Alternate Author Name(s): Moore, Stuart, Mrs.
Subject(s): Women And War; World War I; First World War


NOT DEAD, by ROBERT RANKE GRAVES    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Walking through trees to cool my heat and pain
Last Line: Breaks his slow smile.
Subject(s): Thomas, David; World War I; First World War


NOT HOW THEY LIVED, BUT HOW THEY DIED, by WILLIAM A. PHELON    Poem Text                    
First Line: Sweet is the sleep of those whose lives were hurled
Last Line: "not how they lived—but only how they died!"
Subject(s): Death; Sacrifices; Soldiers; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


NURSE EDITH CAVELL; TWO O'CLOCK, THE MORNING OF OCTOBER 12, 1915, by ALICE MEYNELL    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: To her accustomed eyes
Last Line: Announced that day she met the immortal dead.
Alternate Author Name(s): Meynell, Wilfrid, Mrs.; Thompson, Alice Christina
Subject(s): Cavell, Edith (1865-1915); Death; Nurses; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


OBSERVATION POST, by KURT HEYNICKE    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: The hills march across my eyes
Last Line: Drips into my thoughts.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


ODE IN MEMORY OF THE AMERICAN VOLUNTEERS FALLEN FOR FRANCE, by ALAN SEEGER    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Ay, it is fitting on this holiday
Last Line: For you have died for france and vindicated us.
Variant Title(s): America And France
Subject(s): Americans In France; Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


OFF HELIGOLAND, by JESSIE EDGAR MIDDLETON    Poem Text                    
First Line: Ghostly ships in a ghostly sea
Last Line: Stands the spirit, all silver-bright.
Subject(s): Great Britain - Navy; World War I; First World War


OFTEN WHEN WARRING, by THOMAS HARDY    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Often when warring for he wist not what
Last Line: And war's apology wholly stultified.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


OLD BATTLE-FIELD, by JOSEPH TWADELL SHIPLEY    Poem Text                    
First Line: The way was footless up the steep
Last Line: Our lady of tours.
Subject(s): Fields; Soldiers; War; World War I; Pastures; Meadows; Leas; First World War


OLD SOLDIER DEAD, by ANNETTE KOHN    Poem Text                    
First Line: In flanders fields, where poppies blow'
Last Line: Their own beloved country's flag.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


ON AN AMERICAN SOLDIER OF FORTUNE SLAIN IN FRANCE, by CLINTON SCOLLARD    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: You, who sought the great adventure
Last Line: In the forest of argonne!
Subject(s): Argonne, Battle Of (1918); Army - United States; World War I; First World War


ON BEING ASKED FOR A WAR POEM, by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: I think it better that in times like these
Last Line: Or an old man upon a winter's night.
Alternate Author Name(s): Yeats, W. B.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


ON FINDING MYSELF A SOLDIER, by ROBERT RANKE GRAVES    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: My bud was backward to unclose
Last Line: A heart more red than blood.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


ON GOING INTO ACTION, by HUGH REX FRESTON    Poem Text                    
First Line: Now the weak impulse and the blind desire
Last Line: That even hell's own gates should not prevail.
Subject(s): Soldiers; World War I; First World War


ON LEAVING IRELAND, by THOMAS MICHAEL KETTLE    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: As the sun dried in blood, and hill and sea
Last Line: And knew that even I shall fall on sleep.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


ON PASSING THE NEW MENIN GATE, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis         Recitation     Poet's Biography
First Line: Who will remember, passing through this gate
Last Line: Rise and deride this sepulchre of crime.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


ON READING THAT THE REBUILDING OF YPRES APPROACHED COMPLETION, by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: I hear you now, I hear you, shy perpetual companion
Last Line: "is the wind in the rampart trees."
Alternate Author Name(s): Blunden, Edmund
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


ON RECEIVING [THE FIRST] NEWS OF THE WAR, by ISAAC ROSENBERG    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Snow is a strange white word
Last Line: Its pristine bloom.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


ON SICK LEAVE, 1916, by HAMILTON FISH ARMSTRONG    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: He limped beneath the arch, across the square
Last Line: That smell which only is where war has been.
Subject(s): Washington Square, New York City; World War I; First World War


ON TALK OF PEACE AT THIS TIME, by ROBERT FROST    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: France. France, I know not what is in my heart
Last Line: Is made secure for us and hell is thwarted.
Subject(s): France; Peace; World War I; First World War


ON THE BELGIAN EXPATRIATION, by THOMAS HARDY    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: I dreamt that people from the land of chimes
Last Line: Of ravaged roof, and smouldering gable-end.
Subject(s): Belgium; World War I; First World War


ON THE PIAVE, by WILLIAM A. PHELON    Poem Text                    
First Line: We called 'em wop and dago, and often
Last Line: And we'll know italians better in the long years yet to come!
Subject(s): Immigrants; Italy; World War I; Emigrant; Emigration; Immigration; Italians; First World War


ON THE WAY OF THE CROSS, by AMELIA JOSEPHINE BURR    Poem Text                    
First Line: On the way of the cross we were comrades
Last Line: And your children forever be comrades?
Subject(s): Moscow; World War I; First World War


ON THE WIRE, by ROBERT WILLIAM SERVICE    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: O god, take the sun from the sky!
Last Line: Here on the wire . . . The wire. . . .
Subject(s): Death; War; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


ON TO BERLIN!, by AMOS RUSSEL WELLS    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: On to berlin! And what's in the way?
Last Line: Over them, over them, on to berlin!
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


ONLY A BOCHE, by ROBERT WILLIAM SERVICE    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: We brought him in from between the lines
Last Line: Guerre.
Subject(s): War; World War I; First World War


OPTIMISM, by ALFRED VICTOR RATCLIFFE    Poem Text                    
First Line: At last there'll dawn the last of the long year
Last Line: Your kind shall die, and sweeter days be born.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


ORANGE OF MIDSUMMER, by AMY LOWELL    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: You came to me in the pale starting of spring
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


OUR COUNTRY'S DESTINY, by AMOS RUSSEL WELLS    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: My country! Dare we do it? Dare we be
Last Line: And boldly equal to our destiny!
Subject(s): United States; World War I; America; First World War


OUR HERO, by ROBERT WILLIAM SERVICE    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Flowers, only flowers - bring me dainty posies
Last Line: So we left him sleeping, still amid the flow'rs.
Subject(s): Death; War; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


OUR MODEST DOUGHBOYS, by CHARLTON ANDREWS    Poem Text                    
First Line: Said the captain: 'there was wire'
Last Line: Said private mike mccann.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


OUR MOTHER POCAHONTAS, by NICHOLAS VACHEL LINDSAY    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Powhatan was conqueror
Last Line: Our mother, pocahontas.
Alternate Author Name(s): Lindsay, Vachel
Subject(s): Native Americans; Pocahontas (1595-1617); World War I; Indians Of America; American Indians; Indians Of South America; First World War


OUTWARD BOUND, by NOWELL OXLAND    Poem Text                    
First Line: There's a waterfall I'm leaving
Last Line: We shall go not forth again.
Alternate Author Name(s): Oxland, Noel
Subject(s): Sailing & Sailors; World War I; First World War


OVER THE PARAPET, by ROBERT WILLIAM SERVICE    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: All day long when the shells sail over
Last Line: Over the parapet -- life, romance!
Subject(s): War; World War I; First World War


OXFORD IN WAR-TIME, by WILBERT SNOW    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Under the tow-path past the barges
Last Line: You who have fought and died.
Alternate Author Name(s): Snow, Charles Wilber
Subject(s): Oxford University; World War I; First World War


OXFORD REVISITED IN WAR TIME, by TERTIUS VAN DYKE    Poem Text                    
First Line: Beneath fair magdalen's storied towers
Last Line: And her heart is free and bold.
Subject(s): Oxford University; World War I; First World War


PATTERNS, by AMY LOWELL    Poem Text     Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: I walk down the garden paths
Last Line: Christ! What are patterns for?
Subject(s): Absence; Clothing & Dress; Fashion; Freedom; Gardens & Gardening; Love; Love - Loss Of; World War I; Separation; Isolation; Liberty; First World War


PEACE, by HAROLD TROWBRIDGE PULSIFER    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: The cannon's voice is dumb
Last Line: To arms! For peace is here!
Subject(s): Holidays; Veterans Day; World War I; First World War


PEACE (NOVEMBER 11, 1918), by GRETCHEN OSGOOD WARREN    Poem Text                    
First Line: Peace, battle-worn and starved, and gaunt and pale
Last Line: Yea, peace, while worlds endure, will sing their requiem.
Subject(s): Holidays; Peace; Veterans Day; World War I; First World War


PEACE WITH A SWORD, by ABBIE FARWELL BROWN    Poem Text     Poem Explanation                 Poet's Biography
First Line: Peace! How we love her and the good she brings
Last Line: "help us, o lord!"
Subject(s): Patriotism; World War I; First World War


PEACE: 1919, by MARY CRAIG SINCLAIR    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: The jonquils bloom again upon the hill
Last Line: And tears are gathering to drown the sun.
Alternate Author Name(s): Sinclair, Upton, Mrs.
Subject(s): Peace; Soldiers; War; World War I; First World War


PERSHING AT THE TOMB OF LAFAYETTE, by AMELIA JOSEPHINE BURR    Poem Text                    
First Line: They knew they were fighting our war
Last Line: "only this -- ah, but france understood! ""lafayette, we are here!"
Subject(s): Lafayette, Marie Joseph, Marquis De; Pershing, John J. (1860-1948); World War I; First World War


PERSONAE SEPARATE, by EUGENIO MONTALE    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Like the golden scale that emerges
Last Line: Break, it's already almost night
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


PETER PAN, by CHRISTOPHER DARLINGTON MORLEY    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: And peter pan is dead? Not so!
Last Line: And then go tiptoe down the stair.
Alternate Author Name(s): Hall, Galway
Subject(s): Barrie, Sir James Matthew (1860-1937); World War I; First World War


PICARDY, by JOHN GALSWORTHY    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: When the trees blossom again
Last Line: Who died that we might live.
Alternate Author Name(s): Sinjohn, John
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


PICKING SKULLS AT VERDUN, by VINCENT GODFREY BURNS    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: A respectable, exceedingly proper paper reports
Last Line: Who always see the folly when it is too late!
Subject(s): Cruelty; Death; Skulls; Soldiers; Veterans Day; War; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


PIERROT AT WAR, by MAXWELL STRUTHERS BURT    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: A year ago in carnival
Last Line: And a snarl of angry drums.
Alternate Author Name(s): Burt, Struthers
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


PIERROT GOES TO WAR, by GABRIELLE ELLIOT    Poem Text                    
First Line: In the sheltered garden, pale beneath the moon
Last Line: Pierrot goes forward—but what of pierrette?
Alternate Author Name(s): Forbush, Gabrielle E.
Subject(s): Women & War; World War I; First World War


PILGRIMS, by ROBERT WILLIAM SERVICE    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: For oh, when the war will be over
Last Line: We point . . . To a name on a cross.
Subject(s): Death; War; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


PILLBOX, by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Just see what's happening, worley! - worley rose
Last Line: To see this life so spirited away.
Alternate Author Name(s): Blunden, Edmund
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


PLANKED WHITEFISH, by CARL SANDBURG    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Over an order of planked whitefish at a downtown club
Last Line: "war is the game of a lot of god-damned fools."
Subject(s): Pacifism; World War I; Peace Movements; First World War


POEM, by MURIEL RUKEYSER    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: I lived in the first century of world wars.
Subject(s): World War I; World War Ii; Conduct Of Life; War - Home Front; First World War; Second World War


PRAYER IN THE TRENCHES, by BRENT DOW ALLINSON    Poem Text                    
First Line: Lord god of hosts, be with us here!
Last Line: Cometh the dawn!
Subject(s): Prayer; World War I; First World War


PRAYER OF A SOLDIER IN FRANCE, by ALFRED JOYCE KILMER    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: My shoulders ache beneath my pack
Last Line: This millionth of thy gift. Amen.
Alternate Author Name(s): Kilmer, Joyce
Subject(s): Prayer; Soldiers; World War I; First World War


PREMATURE REJOICING, by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: What's that over there?
Last Line: That's where the difficulty is, over there.
Alternate Author Name(s): Blunden, Edmund
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


PREPARATIONS FOR VICTORY, by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: My soul, dread not the pestilence that hags
Last Line: The black fiend leaps brick-red as life's last picture goes.
Alternate Author Name(s): Blunden, Edmund
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


PRINCETON, MAY, 1917, by ALFRED NOYES    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Now lamp-lit gardens in the blue dusk shine
Last Line: And smile, from souls at peace.
Subject(s): Princeton University; World War I; First World War


PRINCIP, by CALE YOUNG RICE    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Look at him there, a lad of nineteen years
Last Line: Princip, with nineteen years, can you not tell?
Subject(s): Assassination; Fate; Guns; Nations; World War I; Destiny; First World War


PROSPECT, by THOMAS CURTIS CLARK    Poem Text                    
First Line: War will not always be
Last Line: "but that was long ago."
Subject(s): United States - History; War; World War I; First World War


QUIET EYES, by KATHARINE TYNAN    Poem Text     Poem Explanation                 Poet's Biography
First Line: The boys come home, come home from war
Last Line: Unharmed, unflawed, unhurt.
Alternate Author Name(s): Hinkson, Katharine Tynan
Subject(s): Eyes; Innocence; Soldiers; Soul; War; World War I; First World War


RAIN, by PHILIP EDWARD THOMAS    Poem Text     Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Rain, midnight rain, nothing but the wild rain
Last Line: Cannot, the tempest tells me, disappoint.
Alternate Author Name(s): Eastaway, Edward; Thomas, Edward
Subject(s): Rain; Solitude; World War I; Loneliness; First World War


RAOUL LUFBERY, by WILLIAM A. PHELON    Poem Text                    
First Line: His was the spirit that, in ages gone
Last Line: A noble ending—and a deathless name!
Subject(s): Death; France; Soldiers; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


READY TO KILL, by CARL SANDBURG    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Ten minutes now I have been looking at this
Last Line: Ready to run the red blood and slush the bowels of men all over the sweet new grass of the prairie.
Subject(s): Statues; World War I; First World War


REALIZATION, by GLADYS CROMWELL    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: There is one syllable that stirs me: war
Last Line: God, let me apprehend this nearer strife!
Subject(s): Death; England; France; War; World War I; Dead, The; English; First World War


RECALLING WAR, by ROBERT RANKE GRAVES    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Entrance and exit wounds are silvered clean
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


RECOGNITION, by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Old friend, I know you line by line
Last Line: But first we'll make this day, this godlike day our friend.
Alternate Author Name(s): Blunden, Edmund
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


RECONCILIATION, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: When you are standing at your hero's grave
Last Line: The mothers of the men who killed your son.
Subject(s): Mothers; World War I; First World War


RED POPPIES IN THE CORN, by W. CAMPBELL GALBRAITH    Poem Text                    
First Line: I've seen them in the morning light
Last Line: Red poppies in the corn.
Subject(s): Poppies; Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


REINCARNATION, by EDWARD WYNDHAM TENNANT    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: I too remember distant golden days
Last Line: Until perfection reach eternity.
Subject(s): Immortality; Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


RELIEVED (GUILLEMONT), by FREDERIC MANNING    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: We are weary and silent
Last Line: Where light drowns.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


REMORSE, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Lost in the swamp and welter of the pit
Last Line: Of dying heroes and their deathless deeds.'
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


RENDEZVOUS, by ALAN SEEGER    Poem Text                 Recitation by Author     Poet's Biography
First Line: I have a rendezvous with death
Last Line: I shall not fail that rendezvous.
Subject(s): Death; Life Change Events; Patriotism; Soldiers' Writings; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


REPRESSION OF WAR EXPERIENCE, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Now light the candles; one; two; there's a moth
Last Line: I'm going stark, staring mad because of the guns.
Subject(s): Science; Soldiers' Writings; World War I; Scientists; First World War


REPRISALS, by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Some nineteen german planes, they say
Alternate Author Name(s): Yeats, W. B.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


REPUBLIC TO REPUBLIC, 1776-1917, by WITTER BYNNER    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: France! / it is I answering
Last Line: O liberty, my love!
Alternate Author Name(s): Morgan, Emanuel
Subject(s): France; World War I; First World War


RETREAT, by WILFRID WILSON GIBSON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Broken, bewildered by the long retreat
Last Line: "all-heal and willowherb and meadowsweet."
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


RETURN OF THE NATIVE, by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: About the ramparts, quiet as a mother
Last Line: Incapable to stir a weed or moth.
Alternate Author Name(s): Blunden, Edmund
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


RETURNING, WE HEAR THE LARKS, by ISAAC ROSENBERG    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Sombre the night is
Last Line: Or her kisses where a serpent hides.
Subject(s): Birds; Larks; Soldiers' Writings; World War I; Skylarks; First World War


REUNION IN WAR, by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: The windmill in his smock of white
Last Line: In dead men's envied bones.
Alternate Author Name(s): Blunden, Edmund
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


REVEILLE, by EDEN PHILLPOTTS    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Ended the watches of the night; oh, hear the bugles blow
Last Line: And their bugles blow reveillé at the golden gates of morn.
Subject(s): Peace; World War I; First World War


RHEIMS, by ROBERT UNDERWOOD JOHNSON    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: O fortress of the spirit, and thyself
Last Line: And, grieving, mingle pity with their blame.
Subject(s): Rheims, France; World War I; First World War


RHEIMS CATHEDRAL - 1914, by GRACE HAZARD CONKLING    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: A winged death has smitten dumb thy bells
Last Line: Thy bells live on, and heaven is in their tone!
Subject(s): Holidays; Rheims, France; Veterans Day; World War I; First World War


RHYMES OF A RED CROSS MAN: FOREWORD, by ROBERT WILLIAM SERVICE    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: I've tinkered at my bits of rhymes
Last Line: So take or leave them as you will.
Subject(s): Brotherhood; Brothers; Death; War; World War I; Half-brothers; Dead, The; First World War


RHYMES OF A RED CROSS MAN: L'ENVOI, by ROBERT WILLIAM SERVICE    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: My job is done; my rhymes are ranked and ready
Last Line: Love triumphs, freedom beacons, all is well.
Subject(s): War; World War I; First World War


ROBERT CLAYTON WESTMAN OF MASSACHUSETTS; DIED IN FRANCE, AUGUST 1919, by WILLARD WATTLES    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: I will make his name silver
Last Line: Who have achieved indifference.
Subject(s): Death; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


ROMANCE, by NEIL MUNRO    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Old orchard crofts of picardy
Last Line: "when we three march again!"
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


ROUEN; 26 APRIL - 25 MAY 1915, by MAY WEDDERBURN CANNAN    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Early morning over rouen, hopeful, high, courageous morning
Last Line: And the trains that go from rouen at the end of the day.
Subject(s): Nurses; Rouen, France; Women; World War I; First World War


ROUGE BOUQUET [MARCH 7, 1918], by ALFRED JOYCE KILMER    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: In a wood they call the rouge bouquet
Last Line: "farewell!"
Alternate Author Name(s): Kilmer, Joyce
Subject(s): France; Patriotism; World War I; First World War


ROUMANIA, by GEORGE EDWARD WOODBERRY    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Another land has crashed into the deep
Last Line: Rise, rise, roumania! Yet thy soul is whole!
Subject(s): Romania; World War I; Rumania; Roumania; First World War


ROUTE MARCH, by CHARLES HAMILTON SORLEY    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: All the hills and vales along
Last Line: So be merry, so be dead.
Variant Title(s): Of War And Death
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


RUINS (YPRES, 1917), by GEORGE HERBERT CLARKE    Poem Text                    
First Line: Ruins of trees whose woeful arms
Last Line: Clay crumbling slow to clay again.
Subject(s): World War I; Ypres, Belgium; First World War


RURAL ECONOMY (1917), by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: There was winter in those woods
Last Line: Shot up a roaring harvest-home.
Alternate Author Name(s): Blunden, Edmund
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


SAINT JEANNE, by THEODOSIA (PICKERING) GARRISON    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: There is a little church in france today
Last Line: Jeanne d'arc.
Alternate Author Name(s): Faulks, Frederick J., Mrs.
Subject(s): Joan Of Arc (1412-1431); World War I; First World War


SALVAGE, by CARL SANDBURG    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Guns on the battle lines have pounded now a year
Last Line: Guns on the battle lines have pounded a year now between brussels and paris.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


SEARCHLIGHTS, by PAUL BEWSHER    Poem Text                    
First Line: You who have seen across the star-decked skies
Last Line: Which slowly moves across the shell-torn night?
Subject(s): Air Warfare; Aviation & Aviators; World War I; Airplanes; Air Pilots; First World War


SECRET MUSIC, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: I keep such music in my brain
Last Line: And music dawned above despair.
Subject(s): Music & Musicians; Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


SEED-TIME, by JOSEPHINE PRESTON PEABODY    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Woman of the field - by the sunset furrow
Last Line: "they will be wanting bread."
Alternate Author Name(s): Marks, Lionel S., Mrs.
Subject(s): Women And War; World War I; First World War


SEICHEPREY, by ANONYMOUS    Poem Text                    
First Line: A handful came to seicheprey
Last Line: "and left to shattered seicheprey / unending, sweet repose"
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


SEPTEMBER, 1918, by AMY LOWELL    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: This afternoon was the colour of water falling through sunlight
Last Line: Upon a broken world.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


SERBIA, by FLORENCE EARLE COATES    Poem Text                    
First Line: When the heroic deeds that mark our time
Last Line: Is as a crown irradiating light!
Subject(s): Serbia; World War I; Servia; First World War


SHADOWS AND LIGHTS, by GEORGE WILLIAM RUSSELL    Poem Text     Poem Explanation                 Poet's Biography
First Line: What gods have met in battle to arouse
Last Line: To see the beauty in each other's eyes.
Alternate Author Name(s): A. E.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


SHAKESPEARE, by ROBERT UNDERWOOD JOHNSON    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: England, that gavest to the world so much
Last Line: Nearest himself in universal power.
Subject(s): Dramatists; England; Plays & Playwrights ; Poetry & Poets; Shakespeare, William (1564-1616); World War I; English; Dramatists; First World War


SHALL WE FORGET?, by ESTELLE MAY HURLL    Poem Text                    
First Line: Shall we forget, now victory has come
Last Line: Shall we forget to pray?
Subject(s): Wellesley College; World War I; First World War


SICK LEAVE, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: When I'm asleep, dreaming and lulled and warm
Last Line: Are they not still your brothers through our blood?'
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


SILENCE, by VIRGINIA BIDDLE    Poem Text                    
First Line: The battle raged with hellish spite
Last Line: Where men had fallen like summer rain.
Subject(s): Silence; World War I; First World War


SMALL CRAFT, by CICELY FOX SMITH    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: When drake sailed out from devon to
Last Line: All honour be to small craft, for oh! They've earned it well!
Subject(s): Fights; Perseverance; Sea Battles; Ships & Shipping; World War I; Naval Warfare; First World War


SMILE, SMILE, SMILE, by WILFRED OWEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Head to limp head, the sunk-eyed wounded scanned
Last Line: Say: how they smile! They're happy now, poor things.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


SOLDIER SONG (3), by ANONYMOUS    Poem Text                    
First Line: "uncle sammy, he's got the infantry"
Last Line: "good-bye, kaiser bill"
Subject(s): Army - United States;world War I; First World War


SOLDIER: TWENTIETH CENTURY, by ISAAC ROSENBERG    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: I love you, great new titan!
Last Line: Or a word in the brain's ways.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


SOLDIERS OF FREEDOM, by KATHARINE LEE BATES    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: They veiled their souls with laughter
Last Line: As lightly as a rose.
Subject(s): Patriotism; Wellesley College; World War I; First World War


SOLILOQUY, by FRANCIS LEDWIDGE    Poem Text     Poem Explanation                 Poet's Biography
First Line: When I was young I had a care
Last Line: A little grave that has no name.
Subject(s): Soldiers; World War I; First World War


SOLILOQUY 2, by RICHARD ALDINGTON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: I was wrong, quite wrong
Last Line: Than angelo's hand could ever carve in stone
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


SOLILOQUY; NOVEMBER 11, 1928, by N. R. A. BECKER    Poem Text                    
First Line: Ten years! Can that be all
Last Line: "ten years? Can that be all?"
Subject(s): Peace; Veterans Day; War; World War I; First World War


SON, by ROBERT WILLIAM SERVICE    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: He hurried away, young heart of joy, under our devon sky!
Last Line: "so I'm finding the heart to smile and say: ""oh god, if it be thy will!"
Subject(s): War; World War I; First World War


SONG, by EDWARD JOSEPH HARRINGTON O'BRIEN    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Flesh unto flowers
Last Line: To turn to my side.
Subject(s): Women And War; World War I; First World War


SONG AND CRY OF A SOLDIER IN THE LINES, by ALBERT EDWARD CLEMENTS    Poem Text                    
First Line: Sharpen the sky to flashes of flame
Last Line: When a cross and dust mark where you fell?
Subject(s): Death; Government; Social Protest; Soldiers; War; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


SONG FROM AN EVIL WOOD: 1, by EDWARD JOHN MORETON DRAX PLUNKETT    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: There is no wrath in the stars
Last Line: Even in plug street wood!
Alternate Author Name(s): Dunsany, Lord; Dunsany, 18th Baron
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


SONG FROM AN EVIL WOOD: 2, by EDWARD JOHN MORETON DRAX PLUNKETT    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Somewhere lost in the haze
Last Line: On the wooden walls of his cage.
Alternate Author Name(s): Dunsany, Lord; Dunsany, 18th Baron
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


SONG FROM AN EVIL WOOD: 3, by EDWARD JOHN MORETON DRAX PLUNKETT    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: I met with death in his country
Last Line: And he did not look at me.
Alternate Author Name(s): Dunsany, Lord; Dunsany, 18th Baron
Subject(s): Death; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


SONG OF THE RED CROSS, by EDEN PHILLPOTTS    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: O gracious ones, we bless your name
Last Line: The radiant cross of red.
Subject(s): Red Cross; World War I; First World War


SONG-BOOKS OF THE WAR, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: In fifty years, when peace outshines
Last Line: And lived in time to share the fun.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


SONNET, by GRACE E. TOLLEMACHE    Poem Text                    
First Line: As in cool-tempered airs of april-time
Last Line: The fervours that must quench its first delight.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


SONNET (3), by CHARLES HAMILTON SORLEY    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: When you see millions of the mouthless dead
Last Line: Great death has made all his for evermore.
Variant Title(s): The Dead
Subject(s): Death; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


SONNET WRITTEN IN THE FALL OF 1914: 1, by GEORGE EDWARD WOODBERRY    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Awake, ye nations, slumbering supine
Last Line: Man's broken word, and violated gods!
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


SONNET WRITTEN IN THE FALL OF 1914: 2, by GEORGE EDWARD WOODBERRY    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Far fall the day when england's realm shall see
Last Line: Ere such a mighty work man rears on high!
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


SONNET WRITTEN IN THE FALL OF 1914: 3, by GEORGE EDWARD WOODBERRY    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Hearken, the feet of the destroyer tread
Last Line: Ere yet thou close, o flower of christendom!
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


SONNET WRITTEN IN THE FALL OF 1914: 4, by GEORGE EDWARD WOODBERRY    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: As when the shadow of the sun's eclipse
Last Line: Unapt for war, that gloom enshadow thee!
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


SONNET WRITTEN IN THE FALL OF 1914: 5, by GEORGE EDWARD WOODBERRY    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: I pray for peace; yet peace is but a prayer
Last Line: Supreme when in all bosoms he be heard.
Subject(s): Peace; World War I; First World War


SONNET WRITTEN IN THE FALL OF 1914: 6, by GEORGE EDWARD WOODBERRY    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: This is my faith, and my mind's heritage
Last Line: That doth the greater births of time await!
Subject(s): Faith; World War I; Belief; Creed; First World War


SONNET WRITTEN IN THE FALL OF 1914: 7, by GEORGE EDWARD WOODBERRY    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Whence not unmoved I see the nations form
Last Line: The hosts of thirty centuries have died.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


SONNET: 1, by HENRY WILLIAM HUTCHINSON    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: I see across the chasm of flying years
Last Line: To wake again where helen and hector move.
Subject(s): Soldiers; World War I; First World War


SONNET: 2, by HENRY WILLIAM HUTCHINSON    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: The falling rain is music overhead
Last Line: "and sometimes, smiling, murmur, ""be it so!"
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


SONNET: 2. FEBRUARY AFTERNOON, by PHILIP EDWARD THOMAS    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Men heard this roar of parleying starlings, saw
Last Line: That we have wrought him, stone-deaf and stone-blind.
Alternate Author Name(s): Eastaway, Edward; Thomas, Edward
Variant Title(s): February Afternoon
Subject(s): Birds; Time; World War I; First World War


SONNET; OXFORD, 1916, by GEORGE SANTAYANA    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Darkling and groping, thin of blood, we wage
Last Line: The old that erred and the young that died?
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


SORLEY'S WEATHER, by ROBERT RANKE GRAVES    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: When outside the icy rain / comes leaping helter-skelter
Last Line: And the ghost of sorley.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


SPLENDIDLY DEAD; AFTER READING FOR POETS SLAIN IN WAR, by MARION DOYLE    Poem Text                    
First Line: Splendidly dead,' who dares such maudlin singing
Last Line: But I hear the voice of lost song crying.
Alternate Author Name(s): Doyle, Marion Stauffer
Subject(s): Death; Peace; Poetry & Poets; War; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


SPRING IN BELLEAU WOOD, by EVELYN NORCROSS SHERRILL    Poem Text                    
First Line: When spring returns to belleau wood
Last Line: When spring returns to belleau wood.
Subject(s): Belleau Wood, France; Spring; World War I; First World War


SPRING IN WAR TIME, by SARA TEASDALE    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: I feel the spring far off, far off
Last Line: Gray death?
Alternate Author Name(s): Filsinger, Ernest B., Mrs.
Subject(s): Spring; Women; World War I; First World War


SPRING OFFENSIVE, by WILFRED OWEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Halted against the shade of a last hill
Last Line: Why speak they not of comrades that went under?
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


SPRING, 1916, by ISAAC ROSENBERG    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Slow, rigid, is this masquerade
Last Line: Spring! God pity your mood!
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


ST. MIHIEL, by WILLIAM A. PHELON    Poem Text                    
First Line: They said the yankees wouldn't fight--that there was no living chance
Last Line: That the yankees did come over—that the yanks are really there!
Subject(s): Germany; United States; War; World War I; Germans; America; First World War


STAND-TO: GOOD FRIDAY MORNING, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: I'd been on duty from two till four
Last Line: And get my bloody old sins washed white!
Subject(s): Army Life; Good Friday; Holidays; Holy Week; Soldiers' Writings; World War I; Drills & Minor Tactics; First World War


STARLING, by KATHARINE TYNAN    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: The starling in the ivy now
Last Line: To show—his mother's eyes.
Alternate Author Name(s): Hinkson, Katharine Tynan
Subject(s): Death; Starlings; War; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


STATISTICS, by CARL SANDBURG    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Napoleon shifted
Last Line: And the cool night stars.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


STRANGE, by SARA TEASDALE    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Strange that we two, who love all quiet things
Last Line: Locked in the grim fatality of war.
Alternate Author Name(s): Filsinger, Ernest B., Mrs.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


STRANGE MEETING, by WILFRED OWEN    Poem Text     Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis         Recitation     Poet's Biography
First Line: It seemed that out of battle I escaped
Last Line: "let us sleep now. . . ."
Subject(s): Death; Dreams; Hell; Regret; Soldiers; Soldiers' Writings; World War I; Dead, The; Nightmares; First World War


STRETCHER CASE, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: He woke; the clank and racket of the train
Last Line: Lung tonic, mustard, liver pills and beer.
Variant Title(s): Blighty
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


SUICIDE IN THE TRENCHES, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: I knew a simple soldier boy
Last Line: The hell where youth and laughter go.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


SUMMER IN ENGLAND, 1914, by ALICE MEYNELL    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: On london fell a clearer light
Last Line: The very kiss of christ.
Alternate Author Name(s): Meynell, Wilfrid, Mrs.; Thompson, Alice Christina
Subject(s): Women; World War I; First World War


SUNDOWN IN VIRGINIA, by WILLIAM A. PHELON    Poem Text                    
First Line: This is a strange world. Onct, I wouldn't thank
Last Line: Do me a favor, will you? Call me yank!
Subject(s): Soldiers; Virginia (state); War; World War I; First World War


SURVIVORS, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: No doubt they'll soon get well; the shock and strain
Last Line: Children, with eyes that hate you, broken and mad.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


TEN YEARS AFTER, by JOSEPH AUSLANDER    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: In flanders and in france the poppies bloom
Last Line: Ten years ago we could not give enough.
Subject(s): Death; Soldiers; Veterans Day; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


TEN YEARS AFTER, by LUCIA TRENT    Poem Text                    
First Line: Reverberating boom of shuffling, stamping feet!
Last Line: Make the will of the world your trumpet, the heart of the world your drum!
Alternate Author Name(s): Cheyney, Mrs. Ralph; Glass, Mrs. Ernest
Subject(s): Peace; Veterans Day; War; World War I; First World War


THANKSGIVING, by WILLIAM A. PHELON    Poem Text                    
First Line: Yes--we give thanks. Thanks that the fight is won
Last Line: Waves in the forefront of a better world!
Subject(s): Holidays; Thanksgiving; United States; World War I; America; First World War


THAT WOODEN CROSS, by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: That wooden cross beside the road
Last Line: That wooden cross!
Alternate Author Name(s): Dobson, Austin
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


THE ACCUSING HANDS; A 1918 MEMORIAL DAY THOUGHT, by CHARLES LOUIS HENRY WAGNER    Poem Text                    
First Line: I had a vision of the nearer past
Last Line: The clay that wore the khaki and the blue!
Subject(s): Holidays; Memorial Day; Sacrifices; Soldiers; World War I; Declaration Day; First World War


THE ADDED STARTER, by WILLIAM A. PHELON    Poem Text                    
First Line: They're lining up at the starting point, they're
Last Line: The yankee horse looks 'round and sees—the kaiser's mount fall dead.
Subject(s): Germany; United States; War; World War I; Germans; America; First World War


THE ADVENTURE, by ROBERT RANKE GRAVES    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: To-day I killed a tiger near my shack
Last Line: With clotted blood.
Subject(s): Animals; Tigers; World War I; First World War


THE AISNE (1914-15), by ALAN SEEGER    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: We first saw fire on the tragic slopes
Last Line: We helped to hold the lines along the aisne.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


THE ANCRE AT HAMEL: AFTERWARDS, by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN    Poem Text     Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Where tongues were loud and hearts were light
Last Line: And shared its wounded moan.
Alternate Author Name(s): Blunden, Edmund
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


THE ANSWER OF THE LORD, by ROBERT UNDERWOOD JOHNSON    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: How long, o lord, how long'
Last Line: "that I have made you men."
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


THE ANVIL, by LAURENCE BINYON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Burned from the ore's rejected dross
Last Line: And shape us to the end we mean!
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


THE ARMY OF THE DEAD, by BARRY PAIN    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: I dreamed that overhead
Last Line: Salute!
Subject(s): Death; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


THE ASSAULT HEROIC, by ROBERT RANKE GRAVES    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Down in the mud I lay
Last Line: "attack! Stand to! Stand to!"
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


THE AVENUE, by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Up the long colonnade I press, and strive
Last Line: To seek and serve the beauty that must die.
Alternate Author Name(s): Blunden, Edmund
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


THE BALLAD OF SOULFUL SAM, by ROBERT WILLIAM SERVICE    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: You want me to tell you a story, a yarn of the firin' line
Last Line: I'd only -- a deck of cards, boys, but . . . It seemed to do just the same.
Subject(s): Death; War; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


THE BALLAD OF ST. BARBARA, by GILBERT KEITH CHESTERTON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: When the long gray lines came flooding upon paris in the plain
Last Line: That opened like the eye of god on paris in the plain.
Alternate Author Name(s): Chesterton, G. K.
Subject(s): Barbara, Saint (200 A.d.); Marne, Battles Of, The (1914 & 1918); World War I; First World War


THE BANKRUPT PEACE MAKER, by NICHOLAS VACHEL LINDSAY    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: I opened the ink well and smoke filled the room
Last Line: "will you bring your fine peace to the nations today?"
Alternate Author Name(s): Lindsay, Vachel
Subject(s): Peace; World War I; First World War


THE BATTLE OF LIEGE, by DANA BURNET    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Now spake the emperor to all his shining battle forces
Last Line: And the moon rode up behind the smoke and showed the king his dream.
Subject(s): Liege, Battle Of (1914); William Ii, Kaiser Of Germany (1859-1941; World War I; First World War


THE BATTLE OF THE BIGHT (NAVAL ACTION IN THE BIGHT OF HELIGOLAND), by WILLIAM WATSON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: As rose the misty sun
Last Line: Nor have they shamed their sire.
Alternate Author Name(s): Watson, John William
Subject(s): Helgoland Bight, Battle Of; Sea Battles; World War I; Naval Warfare; First World War


THE BATTLE OF THE MARNE, by WILHELM KLEMM    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Slowly the stones begin to rouse themselves and to talk
Last Line: For days, for weeks.
Subject(s): Marne, Battles Of, The (1914 & 1918); World War I; First World War


THE BATTLEFIELD, by SYDNEY OSWALD    Poem Text                    
First Line: Around no fire the soldiers sleep tonight
Last Line: To guard from hurt his faithful sleeping friend.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


THE BEACH ROAD BY THE WOOD, by GEOFFREY HOWARD    Poem Text                    
First Line: I know a beach road
Last Line: And the face I never found.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


THE BELLS OF BRUGES, by LOUISE BURTON LAIDLAW    Poem Text                    
First Line: Back with the same question, major?
Last Line: "come on corporal.—damn this war!"
Alternate Author Name(s): Backus, L., Mrs.
Subject(s): Bells; Bruges, Belgium; World War I; First World War


THE BIG GAME--HERE AND OVER THERE, by WILLIAM A. PHELON    Poem Text                    
First Line: Stands are packed and bleachers crowded
Last Line: "shall call ""safe"" ere evening falls!"
Variant Title(s): The Big Game-here And Over There
Subject(s): Baseball; Soldiers; Sports; War; World War I; First World War


THE BIRD OF VERDUN, by SARA E. FERBER    Poem Text                    
First Line: Brave bird of verdun
Last Line: To the babes of verdun.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


THE BIRDS OF STEEL, by WILLIAM HENRY DAVIES    Poem Text         Poet Analysis            
First Line: This apple-tree, that once was green
Last Line: Up, nearer to god, they fly and sing.
Alternate Author Name(s): Davies, W. H.
Subject(s): Air Warfare; World War I; First World War


THE BLACK DUDEEN, by ROBERT WILLIAM SERVICE    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Humping it here in the dug-out
Last Line: That blighter that smashed me pipe.
Subject(s): War; World War I; First World War


THE BLIND PEDLAR, by FRANCIS OSBERT SACHEVERELL SITWELL    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: I stand alone through each long day
Last Line: Are creased in purple laughter!
Alternate Author Name(s): Sitwell, Sir Osbert; Sitwell, Osbert
Subject(s): Blindness; Peddling & Peddlers; World War I; Visually Handicapped; First World War


THE BOUGH OF NONSENSE, by ROBERT RANKE GRAVES    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Back from the somme two fusiliers
Last Line: A row of bright pink birds, flapping their wings.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


THE BROKEN SOLDIER, by KATHARINE TYNAN    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: The broken soldier sings and whistles day to dark
Last Line: The bird caught in the cage whistles its joyous stave.
Alternate Author Name(s): Hinkson, Katharine Tynan
Subject(s): Soldiers; Soul; Strength; Women; World War I; First World War


THE BUGLER, by FREDERICK WILLIAM HARVEY    Poem Text                    
First Line: God dreamed a man
Last Line: Trumpeting men through beauty to god's side.
Subject(s): Soldiers; Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


THE CALL, by FRANCIS WILLIAM BOURDILLON    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Hark! 'tis the rush of the horses
Last Line: And—losing such stakes—say, 't is well!
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


THE CALL (FRANCE, AUGUST FIRST, 1914), by ROBERT WILLIAM SERVICE    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Far and near, high and clear
Last Line: War! War! War!
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


THE CALL TO ARMS IN OUR STREET, by WINIFRED MARY LETTS    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: There's a woman sobs her heart out
Last Line: God go with you where you go!
Subject(s): Women & War; World War I; First World War


THE CALL TO THE RESERVISTS, by ROBERT UNDERWOOD JOHNSON    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: This was the message under the sea
Last Line: The swarthy reservist from over the sea.
Subject(s): Army - Italy; World War I; First World War


THE CAMP-FOLLOWER, by MAXWELL BODENHEIM    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: We spoke, the camp-follower and I
Last Line: And I sat beside her and wondered.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


THE CAPTIVE SHIPS AT MANILA, by DOROTHY PAUL    Poem Text                    
First Line: Our keels are furred with tropic weed
Last Line: Out again to the blue!
Subject(s): Manila, Philippines; World War I; First World War


THE CASUALTY CLEARING STATION, by GILBERT WATERHOUSE    Poem Text                    
First Line: A bowl of daffodils
Last Line: Secure from war's alarms.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


THE CATHEDRAL, by WILLIAM G. SHAKESPEARE    Poem Text                    
First Line: Hope and mirth are gone. Beauty is departed
Last Line: Forgiving, praying, singing, feeling sorry.
Alternate Author Name(s): S., W. G.
Subject(s): Death; Soldiers' Writings; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


THE CHALLENGE OF THE GUNS, by ARTHUR NELSON FIELD    Poem Text                    
First Line: By day, by night, along the lines
Last Line: All that we have and are we lay on england's shrine.
Alternate Author Name(s): Nelson, A. N.
Subject(s): England; Soldiers' Writings; World War I; English; First World War


THE CHANCES, by WILFRED OWEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: I mind as 'ow the night afore that show
Last Line: The ruddy lot all rolled in one. Jim's mad.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


THE CHIVALRY OF THE SEA, by ROBERT SEYMOUR BRIDGES    Poem Text     Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Over the warring waters, beneath the wandering skies
Last Line: The wide-warring water, under the starry skies.
Alternate Author Name(s): Bridges, Robert+(2)
Subject(s): Sea Battles; World War I; Naval Warfare; First World War


THE CHOICE, by JOHN MASEFIELD    Poem Text     Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: The kings go by with jewelled crowns
Last Line: Escape from prison.
Alternate Author Name(s): Masefield, John Edward
Variant Title(s): Lollingdon Downs: 8
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


THE CHORAL UNION, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: He staggered in from night and frost and fog
Last Line: He wondered when lord god would turn him out.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


THE COMING POET, by FRANCIS LEDWIDGE    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Is it far to the town?' said the poet
Last Line: Fame at his crumbled head.
Subject(s): Poetry & Poets; World War I; First World War


THE CONFLICT: 1. TO WILLIAM WATSON IN ENGLAND, by PERCY MACKAYE    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Singer of england's ire across the sea
Last Line: He cannot tear our plighted souls apart.
Alternate Author Name(s): Mackaye, Percy Wallace
Subject(s): England; Singing & Singers; Watson, William (1858-1935); World War I; English; First World War


THE CONFLICT: 2. AMERICAN NEUTRALITY, by PERCY MACKAYE    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: How shall we keep an armed neutrality
Last Line: Our souls cannot keep neutral and keep true.
Alternate Author Name(s): Mackaye, Percy Wallace
Subject(s): Duty; England; Peace; United States; World War I; English; America; First World War


THE CONFLICT: 3. PEACE, by PERCY MACKAYE    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Peace! - but there is no peace. To hug the thought
Last Line: Or would we crown with peace — caligula?
Alternate Author Name(s): Mackaye, Percy Wallace
Subject(s): Caligula (12 A.d.- 41 A.d.); England; Peace; United States; World War I; English; America; First World War


THE CONFLICT: 4. WILSON, by PERCY MACKAYE    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Patience - but peace of heart we cannot choose
Last Line: The wolf of europe has not triumphed yet.
Alternate Author Name(s): Mackaye, Percy Wallace
Subject(s): Duty; Patience; United States; Wilson, Woodrow (1856-1924); World War I; America; First World War


THE CONFLICT: 5. KRUPPISM, by PERCY MACKAYE    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Crowned on the twilight battlefield, there bends
Last Line: So long shall we serve krupp instead of christ.
Alternate Author Name(s): Mackaye, Percy Wallace
Subject(s): Death; Germany; Jesus Christ; Krupp (industrial Conglomerate); Loss; Loyalty; World War I; Dead, The; Germans; First World War


THE CONFLICT: 6. THE REAL GERMANY, by PERCY MACKAYE    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Bismarck - or rapt beethoven with his dreams
Last Line: Of buried guns gives birth to germany.
Alternate Author Name(s): Mackaye, Percy Wallace
Subject(s): Ambition; Art & Artists; Bismark, Otto Von (1815-1898); Music & Musicians; Philosophy & Philosophers; World War I; First World War


THE CONVALESCENT, by ROBERT WILLIAM SERVICE    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: So I walked among the willows very quietly all night
Last Line: But mother's sayin' nothin', and she clasps -- a silver cross.
Subject(s): Brothers; Death; War; World War I; Half-brothers; Dead, The; First World War


THE CORNUCOPIA OF RED AND GREEN COMFITS, by AMY LOWELL    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Currants and honey!
Last Line: In new ribbons sent from potsdam.
Subject(s): Hunger; World War I; First World War


THE COST, by ROBERT UNDERWOOD JOHNSON    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Of late we heard dark oracles proclaim
Last Line: A nobler vision, happier fate be thine!
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


THE COWARD, by ROBERT WILLIAM SERVICE    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Ave you seen bill's mug in the noos today?
Last Line: Wot's the matter with bill!
Subject(s): Army - Great Britain; Cowardice; War; World War I; First World War


THE CRICKETERS OF FLANDERS, by JAMES NORMAN HALL    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: The first to climb the parapet
Last Line: "a sportsman and a soldier still!"
Subject(s): Flanders, Belgium; Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


THE CZAR'S LAST CHRISTMAS LETTER: A BARN IN THE URALS, by NORMAN DUBIE    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: You were never told, mother, how old illya was drunk
Last Line: And I am nicholas.
Subject(s): Children; Christmas; Letters; Mothers & Sons; Nicholas Ii, Czar Of Russia (1868-1918); Parents; World War I; Childhood; Nativity, The; Parenthood; First World War


THE DANCERS (DURING A GREAT BATTLE, 1916), by EDITH SITWELL    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: The floors are slippery with blood
Subject(s): Women; World War I; First World War


THE DARKEST HOUR; OXFORD, 1917, by GEORGE SANTAYANA    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Smother thy flickering light, the vigil is o'er
Last Line: A cold moon gilds the waves of acheron.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


THE DAWN PATROL, by PAUL BEWSHER    Poem Text                    
First Line: Sometimes I fly at dawn above the sea
Last Line: In thanks to him who brings me safely home.
Subject(s): Air Warfare; Holidays; Thanksgiving; World War I; First World War


THE DAY'S MARCH, by ROBERT MALISE BOWYER NICHOLS    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: The battery grides and jingles
Last Line: I lift my head and smile.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


THE DEAD AND THE LIVING ONE, by THOMAS HARDY    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: The dead woman lay in her first night's grave
Last Line: There was a deeper gloom around.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


THE DEAD KINGS, by FRANCIS LEDWIDGE    Poem Text     Poem Explanation                 Poet's Biography
First Line: All the dead kings came to me
Last Line: I woke, 'twas day in picardy.
Subject(s): Courts & Courtiers; Death; Ireland; World War I; Royal Court Life; Royalty; Kings; Queens; Dead, The; Irish; First World War


THE DEAD-BEAT, by WILFRED OWEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: He dropped - more sullenly than wearily
Last Line: "that scum you sent last night soon died. Hooray!"
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


THE DEAD: 1, by DAVID MORTON    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Think you the dead are lonely in that place?
Last Line: Are ever by great beauty visited.
Subject(s): Death; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


THE DEATH OF PEACE, by RONALD ROSS    Poem Text                    
First Line: Now slowly sinks the day-long labouring sun
Last Line: The direst deed e'er done, the most accursèd crime.
Subject(s): Peace; World War I; First World War


THE DEATH-BED, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis         Recitation     Poet's Biography
First Line: He drowsed and was aware of silence heaped
Last Line: Then, far away, the thudding of the guns.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


THE DEFENDERS, by JOHN DRINKWATER    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: His wage of rest at nightfall still
Last Line: The stranger from his cottage fire?
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


THE DEVONSHIRE MOTHER, by MARJORIE WILSON    Poem Text                    
First Line: The king have called the devon lads and they be answering fine
Last Line: With his tanned face, his eyes of blue, and he so strappin' tall.
Subject(s): Children; Mothers; Women And War; World War I; Childhood; First World War


THE DOLLAR-A-YEAR MEN, by AMOS RUSSEL WELLS    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Now a hearty and vigorous cheer, men
Last Line: The patriot dollar-a-year men!
Subject(s): Patriotism; World War I; First World War


THE DRAFTED MAN, by CHARLES BADGER CLARK JR.    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Kissed me from the saddle, and I still can feel it burning
Last Line: Coming up the canon from the smoke-blue plains!
Alternate Author Name(s): Clark, Badger
Variant Title(s): The Smoke Blue Plains
Subject(s): Soldiers; World War I; First World War


THE DRAGON AND THE UNDYING, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: All night the flares go up; the dragon sings
Last Line: To hail the burning heavens they left unsung.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


THE DREAM, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Moonlight and dew-drenched blossom, and the scent
Last Line: To the foul beast of war that bludgeons life.
Subject(s): Science; Soldiers' Writings; World War I; Scientists; First World War


THE DUG-OUT, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Why do you lie with your legs ungainly huddled
Last Line: And when you sleep you remind me of the dead.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


THE DYING SOLDIER, by ISAAC ROSENBERG    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Here are houses, he moaned
Last Line: He moaned and swooned to death.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


THE EFFECT, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: He'd never seen so many dead before
Last Line: Who'll buy my nice fresh corpses, two a penny?'
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


THE END, by WILFRED OWEN    Poem Text     Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: After the blast of lightning from the east
Last Line: "nor my titanic tears the seas be dried."
Subject(s): Bible; Religion; Soldiers' Writings; World War I; Theology; First World War


THE ENDLESS ARMY, by GRETCHEN OSGOOD WARREN    Poem Text                    
First Line: With folded hands beside the fire
Last Line: Dim regiments of shades march by.
Subject(s): Women And War; World War I; First World War


THE ESTRANGEMENT, by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Dim through cloud vails the moonlight trembles down
Last Line: Shrills malice at the soul grown strange in france.
Alternate Author Name(s): Blunden, Edmund
Subject(s): France; World War I; First World War


THE EVERLASTING ARMS, by ARTHUR GLYN PRYS-JONES    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: The tides of death go swiftly home
Last Line: Transfigured in his gaze.
Subject(s): Death; Wales; World War I; Dead, The; Welshmen; Welshwomen; First World War


THE FACE (GUILLEMONT), by FREDERIC MANNING    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Out of the smoke of men's wrath
Last Line: Broken.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


THE FARMER REMEMBERS THE SOMME, by VANCE PALMER    Poem Text                    
First Line: Will they never fade or pass!
Last Line: And the dark somme flowing.
Subject(s): Memory; World War I; First World War


THE FATHER, by WILFRID WILSON GIBSON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: That was his sort
Last Line: And cut him short.
Subject(s): Fathers; World War I; First World War


THE FATHERS, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Snug at the club two fathers sat
Last Line: These impotent old friends of mine.
Subject(s): Fathers & Sons; Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


THE FAUN COMPLAINS, by RICHARD ALDINGTON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: They give me aeroplanes
Last Line: Who mock my little horns and pointed ears
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


THE FEAR, by WILFRID WILSON GIBSON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: I do not fear to die
Last Line: Lest I wake up dead.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


THE FESTUBERT SHRINE, by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: A sycamore on either side
Last Line: We are no less poor than they.
Alternate Author Name(s): Blunden, Edmund
Subject(s): Mary. Mother Of Jesus; Prayer; Women In The Bible; World War I; Virgin Mary; First World War


THE FIRST BATTLE OF YPRES, by MARGARET LOUISA WOODS    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Grey field of flanders, grim old battle-plain
Last Line: From bixschoote to baecelaere and down to the lys river.
Alternate Author Name(s): Woods, Mrs. Margaret Louisa Bradley
Subject(s): World War I; Ypres, Belgium; First World War


THE FIRST FUNERAL, by ROBERT RANKE GRAVES    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: The whole field was so smelly; / we smelt the poor dog first
Last Line: And said: 'poor dog, amen!'
Subject(s): Animals; Corpses; Dogs; World War I; Cadavers; First World War


THE FIRST THREE [NOVEMBER 3, 1917], by CLINTON SCOLLARD    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Somewhere in france,' upon a brown hillside
Last Line: Upon their hillside graves our immortelles!
Subject(s): Death; Enright, Thomas F.; Gresham, James D.; Hay, Merle D.; Soldiers; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


THE FLAG, by EDWARD A. HORTON    Poem Text                    
First Line: Why do I love our flag? Ask why
Last Line: God give it leadership, and might!
Subject(s): Flags - United States; World War I; American Flag; First World War


THE FLAG WE LOVE SO WELL (MARCHING SONG), by ROBERT UNDERWOOD JOHNSON    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: March along, march along, with a song
Last Line: Chorus: on, on, by dark or dawn, etc.
Subject(s): Flags - United States; World War I; American Flag; First World War


THE FOOL, by ROBERT WILLIAM SERVICE    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: But it isn't playing the game,' he said
Last Line: In the last great game of all.
Subject(s): Brothers; Death; War; World War I; Half-brothers; Dead, The; First World War


THE FOUR BROTHERS, by CARL SANDBURG    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Make war songs out of these
Last Line: New sleepy-time songs.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


THE FRONTIER, by PHILIP GUEDALLA    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Guns o' position is long and lean
Last Line: Than a gunner with guns to lay.
Subject(s): France; Oxford University; World War I; First World War


THE GALLOWS, by PHILIP EDWARD THOMAS    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: There was a weasel lived in the sun
Last Line: On the dead oak tree bough.
Alternate Author Name(s): Eastaway, Edward; Thomas, Edward
Variant Title(s): Gallows 1916
Subject(s): Animals; Nature; World War I; First World War


THE GENERAL, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Good-morning: good-morning!' the general said
Last Line: But he did for them both by his plan of attack.
Subject(s): Generals; Hate; Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


THE GERMAN AMERICAN TO HIS ADOPTED COUNTRY, by GEORGE SYLVESTER VIERECK    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: The great guns crashing angrily
Last Line: Still guards the teuton's holy grail!
Subject(s): German Americans; U.s. - Foreign Population; World War I; First World War


THE GOLDEN CROSS, by WILSON PUGSLEY MACDONALD    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: We hold in memory all the whiter moons
Last Line: And lilies wet from no fair woodland's breast.
Subject(s): Conscientious Objectors; World War I; First World War


THE GUARDS CAME THROUGH, by ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Men of the twenty-first
Last Line: How the guards came through.
Subject(s): England; Soldiers; World War I; English; First World War


THE GUNS IN SUSSEX, by ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Light green of grass and richer green of bush
Last Line: But still I hear the mutter of the guns.
Subject(s): Desolation; England; Guns; Patriotism; Sussex, England; War; World War I; English; First World War


THE HAGGIS OF PRIVATE MCPHEE, by ROBERT WILLIAM SERVICE    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Hae ye heard whit ma auld mither's postit tae me?
Last Line: For he thocht o' the haggis o' private mcphee.
Subject(s): Death; War; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


THE HAWTHORN TREE, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Not much to me is yonder lane
Last Line: Until I've heard he's dead.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


THE HEALERS, by LAURENCE BINYON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: In a vision of the night I saw them
Last Line: Braver than the brave?
Subject(s): Courage; Death; First Aid; Healing; Nurses; Physicians; World War I; Valor; Bravery; Dead, The; Cures; Doctors; First World War


THE HELL GATE OF SOISSONS, by HERBERT KAUFMAN    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: My name is darino, the poet. You have heard?
Last Line: By the valor of twelve english martyrs, the hell-gate of soissons is won!
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


THE HERO, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Jack fell as he'd have wished,' the mother said
Last Line: Except that lonely woman with white hair.
Subject(s): Mothers; Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


THE HERO OF VIMY; AN INCIDENT OF THE GREAT WAR, by BRENT DOW ALLINSON    Poem Text                    
First Line: We charged at vimy, -- zero was at four
Last Line: I cried to heaven,—and wondered if god laughed!
Subject(s): Heroism; World War I; Heroes; Heroines; First World War


THE HOLY WAR, by RUDYARD KIPLING    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: A tinker out of bedford
Last Line: And bunyan was his name!
Subject(s): Bunyan, John (1628-1688); World War I; First World War


THE HOMECOMING OF THE SHEEP, by FRANCIS LEDWIDGE    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: The sheep are coming home in greece
Last Line: And the climbing moon grows small.
Subject(s): Greece; Sheep; World War I; Greeks; First World War


THE HORSES, by KATHARINE LEE BATES    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: What was our share in the sinning?
Subject(s): World War I; Horses; Animals; First World War


THE HOSTS, by ALAN SEEGER    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Purged, with the life they left, of all
Last Line: We played it through as the author planned.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


THE HOUSE OF DEATH, by A. T. NANKIVELL    Poem Text                    
First Line: Surely the keeper of the house of death
Last Line: And all his courts are gay with flowers of spring.
Subject(s): Death; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


THE HOUSEWIFE, by WILFRID WILSON GIBSON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: She must go back, she said
Last Line: Into the night, shells falling thick and fast.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


THE IMMORTALS, by ISAAC ROSENBERG    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: I killed them, but they would not die
Last Line: But now I call him dirty louse.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


THE INVESTITURE, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: God with a roll of honour in his hand
Last Line: You roam forlorn along the streets of gold.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


THE INVOLUNTARY SLACKER, by WILLIAM A. PHELON    Poem Text                    
First Line: Strong, young and healthy--so the whole world says
Last Line: Was ever crucifixion such as mine?
Subject(s): Alienation (social Psychology); War; World War I; Estrangement; Outcasts; First World War


THE JEWISH CONSCRIPT; IN RUSSIA, by FLORENCE KIPER FRANK    Poem Text                    
First Line: They have dressed me up in a soldier's dress
Last Line: He also died in vain.
Subject(s): Jews; Russia - Army-military Life; World War I; Judaism; First World War


THE JOKE, by WILFRID WILSON GIBSON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: He'd even have his joke
Last Line: And now god knows when I shall hear the rest!
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


THE JOURNEY, by GRACE FALLOW NORTON    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: I went upon a journey
Last Line: All my journey sung!
Subject(s): Death; Nations; Soldiers; Women; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


THE KAISER AND BELGIUM, by STEPHEN PHILLIPS    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: He said: 'thou petty people, let me pass'
Last Line: Then thy destruction slake thy madman's thirst.
Subject(s): Liege, Battle Of (1914); William Ii, Kaiser Of Germany (1859-1941; World War I; First World War


THE KAISER AND GOD, by BARRY PAIN    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Led by wilhelm, as you tell
Last Line: We, fighting to the end, commend our souls.
Subject(s): William Ii, Kaiser Of Germany (1859-1941; World War I; First World War


THE KISS, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: To these I turn, in these I trust
Last Line: Quail from your downward darting kiss.
Subject(s): Kisses; Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


THE LAMENT OF THE DEMOBILIZED, by VERA MARY BRITTAIN    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Four years.' some say consolingly. 'oh well
Alternate Author Name(s): Catlin, George E. G., Mrs.
Subject(s): World War I; Veterans; First World War


THE LARK, by WILFRID WILSON GIBSON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: A lull in the racket and brattle
Last Line: Is drowned in the shattering brattle.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


THE LAST MEETING, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Because the night was falling warm and still
Last Line: And youth, that dying, touched my lips to song.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


THE LAST POST, by ROBERT RANKE GRAVES    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: The bugler sent a call of high romance
Last Line: "jolly young fusiliers too good to die."
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


THE LAST RALLY, by JOHN GOULD FLETCHER    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: In the midnight, in the rain
Last Line: And another laughs with flashing eyes, sitting bolt upright.
Subject(s): Military Service, Compulsory; World War I; Conscription; Military Draft; Selective Service; First World War


THE LATE STAND-TO, by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: I thought of cottages nigh brooks
Last Line: I gave stand-to! The east was red.
Alternate Author Name(s): Blunden, Edmund
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


THE LEADER, by ROBERT UNDERWOOD JOHNSON    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: This is the man they deemed of languid blood
Last Line: His name becomes the whispered hope of men.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


THE LIARS, by NATHALIA CRANE    Poem Text                    
First Line: We were the castanet units
Last Line: We are the liars from france.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


THE LITTLE PEOPLE'S CALL, by WILLIAM A. PHELON    Poem Text                    
First Line: What is this? They say the irish fighting spirit
Last Line: Strings—it's the little people calling, calling you to war!
Subject(s): Ireland; War; World War I; Irish; First World War


THE LITTLE PEOPLES, by CLAUDE MCKAY    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: The little peoples of the troubled earth
Last Line: The white world's burden must forever bear!
Alternate Author Name(s): Edwards, Eli
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


THE LITTLE PIOU-PIOU, by ROBERT WILLIAM SERVICE    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Oh, some of us lolled in the chateau
Last Line: Sonnez la charge, clairons!
Subject(s): Soldiers; War; World War I; First World War


THE LONELY GARDEN, by EDGAR ALBERT GUEST    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: I wonder what the trees will say
Last Line: When they find out he's marched away.
Alternate Author Name(s): Guest, Eddie
Subject(s): Gardens & Gardening; World War I; First World War


THE LONG VACATION, by KATHARINE TYNAN    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: This is the time the boys come home from school
Last Line: The roads of the world run heavenward every one.
Alternate Author Name(s): Hinkson, Katharine Tynan
Subject(s): Classmates; Homecoming; Mothers; Sons; War; World War I; Schoolmates; First World War


THE LOST LEGION, by WILLIAM A. PHELON    Poem Text                    
First Line: Tough birds were some of our fighters, for the
Last Line: But god won't give a crooked deal to men who died like men!
Subject(s): Death; Soldiers; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


THE LOST ONES, by FRANCIS LEDWIDGE    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Somewhere is music from the linnets' bills
Last Line: Crying about the dark for those who died.
Subject(s): Death; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


THE MAGPIES IN PICARDY, by T. P. CAMERON WILSON    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: The magpies in picardy / are more than I can tell
Last Line: He flies as poets might.)
Alternate Author Name(s): Tipuca; Wilson, Tony P. Cameron
Subject(s): Birds; Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


THE MAN FROM ATHABASKA, by ROBERT WILLIAM SERVICE    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Oh the wife she tried to tell me that 'twas nothing but the thrumming
Last Line: And I'll rest in athabaska, and I'll leave it nevermore.
Subject(s): Death; War; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


THE MAN OF THE MARNE, by BLISS CARMAN    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: The gray battalions were driving down
Last Line: Remember the marne and ferdinand foch.
Subject(s): Foch, Ferdinand (1851-1929); Holidays; Veterans Day; World War I; First World War


THE MARNE, by ROBERT UNDERWOOD JOHNSON    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Down through dim centuries of shame
Last Line: Unteach us love of man.
Subject(s): Marne, Battles Of, The (1914 & 1918); World War I; First World War


THE MEETING, by AMELIA JOSEPHINE BURR    Poem Text                    
First Line: She was a blossoming slip of english may
Last Line: "he holds her fast -- ""my rose! My little rose...."
Subject(s): Women - Employment; World War I; Professional Women; Women In Business; Women's Careers; First World War


THE MEN THAT FOUGHT AT MINDEN, by RUDYARD KIPLING    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: The men that fought at minden, they was rookies in their time
Last Line: Ho! Run an' get the beer, johnny raw!
Subject(s): Army - Great Britain; Minden, Germany; World War I; First World War


THE MERCIFUL HAND, by NICHOLAS VACHEL LINDSAY    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Your fine white hand is heaven's gift
Last Line: The love-alliance of mankind.
Alternate Author Name(s): Lindsay, Vachel
Subject(s): Nurses; World War I; First World War


THE MESSINES ROAD, by JOHN E. STEWART    Poem Text                    
First Line: The road that runs up to messines
Last Line: And give the highway back its state.
Subject(s): Roads; Soldiers' Writings; World War I; Paths; Trails; First World War


THE METAL CHECKS, by LOUISE DRISCOLL    Poem Text                    
First Line: The bearer / here is a sack, a gunny sack
Last Line: One—two—three—four—
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


THE MILITIAMAN, by ELMO SCOTT WATSON    Poem Text                    
First Line: O, we didn't join for glory
Last Line: Fightin' like hell for the red, white and blue!
Subject(s): Militarism; Soldiers; World War I; First World War


THE MINE-SWEEPERS, by RUDYARD KIPLING    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Dawn off the foreland -- the young flood making
Last Line: "sent back unity, claribel, assyrian, stormcock, and golden gain."
Subject(s): Mine-sweepers; Ships & Shipping; World War I; First World War


THE MOBILIZATION IN BRITTANY, by GRACE FALLOW NORTON    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: It was silent in the street
Last Line: So this is the way of war ...
Subject(s): Brittany, France; World War I; First World War


THE MORNING BEFORE THE BATTLE, by ROBERT RANKE GRAVES    Poem Text     Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: To-day, the fight: my end is very soon
Last Line: That dead men blossomed in the garden-close.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


THE MOTHER (2), by KATHARINE TYNAN    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Her boys are not shut out. They come
Last Line: And not go out again.
Alternate Author Name(s): Hinkson, Katharine Tynan
Subject(s): Mothers; Women And War; World War I; First World War


THE MOTHER ON THE SIDEWALK, by EDGAR ALBERT GUEST    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: The mother on the sidewalk as the troops are marching by
Last Line: Is a lasting holy tribute to all mothers' love of right.
Alternate Author Name(s): Guest, Eddie
Subject(s): Mothers; Patriotism; World War I; First World War


THE MOUNTAIN OF SKELETONS, by EDWARD MERRILL ROOT    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: A mountain strikes into a clouded sky
Last Line: In what forgotten war.
Alternate Author Name(s): Root, E. Merrill
Subject(s): Korean War, 1950-1953; Mountains; Skeletons; Soldiers; World War I; Hills; Downs (great Britain); First World War


THE MOUNTAIN OF SKULLS, by WILLIAM ELLERY LEONARD    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: All guns are silent - 'I have won,' he saith
Last Line: Go quietly, all our days.
Subject(s): Skulls; Soldiers; War; World War I; First World War


THE MOURNERS, by ROBERT WILLIAM SERVICE    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: I look into the aching womb of night
Last Line: How happy are the dead!
Subject(s): Death; War; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


THE NATION'S COURAGE (WRITTEN IN THE WORLD WAR), by AMOS RUSSEL WELLS    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: As thou hast kept our nation, lord
Last Line: Lead thou the armies of the right!
Subject(s): Prayer; United States; World War I; America; First World War


THE NEUTRAL, by GEORGE SYLVESTER VIERECK    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Thou who canst stop this slaughter if thou wilt
Last Line: The mute accusing army of the dead?
Subject(s): German Americans; World War I; First World War


THE NEW DAY, by FENTON JOHNSON    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: From a vision red with war
Last Line: Man's land.
Subject(s): Freedom; World War I; Liberty; First World War


THE NEW SCHOOL, by ALFRED JOYCE KILMER    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: The halls that were loud with the merry tread of young and careless feet
Last Line: A flame that they took with strong young hands from the altar-fires of god.
Alternate Author Name(s): Kilmer, Joyce
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


THE NEW SLAVERY (GERMAN EXPATRIATION OF CIVIL POPULATIONS OF BELGIUM), by ROBERT UNDERWOOD JOHNSON    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Men of freedom, for whose ease
Last Line: December 15, 1916.
Subject(s): Belgium; World War I; First World War


THE NEW WORLD, by ROBERT UNDERWOOD JOHNSON    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Come, let us make a new world,' said the proud
Last Line: But justice, queened by pity, rules the new.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


THE NEW ZEALANDER, by BEN KENDIM    Poem Text                    
First Line: Samothrace and imbros lie
Last Line: Tom, his brother, envied him.
Subject(s): New Zealand; World War I; First World War


THE NEXT WAR, by ROBERT RANKE GRAVES    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: You young friskies who to-day / jump and fight in father's hay
Last Line: Playing at royal welch fusiliers.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


THE NEXT WAR, by WILFRED OWEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Out there, we walked quite friendly up to death
Last Line: He fights for death, for lives; not men, for flags.
Subject(s): Death; Patriotism; Soldiers' Writings; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


THE NIGHT PATROL; SEPTEMBER, 1918, by ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Behind me on the darkened pier
Last Line: And silent duty on the sea.
Subject(s): England; Night; Ships & Shipping; Soldiers; War; World War I; English; Bedtime; First World War


THE NOBLER ARMY, by BERTON BRALEY    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: The men who fight in europe - they fight to maim and kill
Subject(s): Coal Mines & Miners; World War I; First World War


THE ODYSSEY OF 'ERBERT 'IGGINS, by ROBERT WILLIAM SERVICE    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Me and ed and a stretcher
Last Line: "we'll 'owl in their fyces: 'no-o-o!'"
Subject(s): Army Life; World War I; Drills & Minor Tactics; First World War


THE ONE-LEGGED MAN, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Propped up on a stick he viewed the august weald
Last Line: And thought: 'thank god they had to amputate!'
Subject(s): Amputees; Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


THE OWL, by PHILIP EDWARD THOMAS    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Downhill I came, hungry, and yet not starved
Last Line: Soldiers and poor, unable to rejoice.
Alternate Author Name(s): Eastaway, Edward; Thomas, Edward
Subject(s): Birds; Owls; World War I; First World War


THE PARABLE OF THE OLD MAN AND THE YOUNG, by WILFRED OWEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis         Recitation     Poet's Biography
First Line: So abram rose, and clave the wood, and went
Last Line: And half the seed of europe, one by one.
Subject(s): Abraham; Bible; Isaac (bible); Religion; Soldiers' Writings; World War I; Theology; First World War


THE PASSENGERS OF A RETARDED SUBMERSIBLE, by WILLIAM DEAN HOWELLS    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: The american people: / what was it kept you so long, brave german submersible?
Last Line: Shall be ever the home for us this land can never be.
Alternate Author Name(s): Howells, W. D.
Subject(s): Germany; Lusitania (ship); World War I; Germans; First World War


THE PEACE PEAL (AFTER FOUR YEARS OF SILENCE), by THOMAS HARDY    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Said a wistful daw in saint peter's tower
Last Line: Or lower, of pens and politics.
Subject(s): Peace; World War I; First World War


THE PEACEFUL WARRIOR, by HENRY VAN DYKE    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: I have [or, there is] no joy in strife
Last Line: Unless the world is free?
Alternate Author Name(s): Civis Americanus
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


THE PITY OF IT, by THOMAS HARDY    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: I walked in loamy wessex lanes afar
Last Line: And their brood perish everlastingly.'
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


THE POET, by THOMAS ERNEST HULME    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Over a large table, smooth, he leaned in ecstasies
Last Line: On the smooth table.
Alternate Author Name(s): Hulme, T. E.
Subject(s): Poetry & Poets; World War I; First World War


THE POPLARS, by BERNARD FREEMAN TROTTER    Poem Text                    
First Line: O, a lush green english meadow - it's there I that would lie
Last Line: For a row of wind-blown poplars against an english sky.
Subject(s): Poplar Trees; Soldiers; World War I; First World War


THE PRICE OF HONOR (THE COLOMBIAN INDEMNITY), by ROBERT UNDERWOOD JOHNSON    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: How much is a country's honor worth?
Last Line: Give us our measureless honor again.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


THE PROPHET, by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: It is a country
Last Line: This sometime seer, crass but cassandra-like.
Alternate Author Name(s): Blunden, Edmund
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


THE QUAKER MEETING-HOUSE, by WILLIAM ELLERY LEONARD    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Beyond the corn-rows from our barracks stood
Last Line: With windows burning like the fires of home.
Subject(s): Friends, Religious Society Of; Houses; Religion; War; World War I; Quakers; Theology; First World War


THE QUESTION, by WILFRID WILSON GIBSON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: I wonder if the old cow died or not
Last Line: Till doomsday if the old cow died or not.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


THE RAGGED STONE, by WILFRID WILSON GIBSON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: As I was walking with my dear, my dear come back at last
Last Line: I'll not be walking with my dear next year, nor yet alone.
Subject(s): Death; Fear; Legends; Love; Stones; War; World War I; Dead, The; Granite; Rocks; First World War


THE RANKER, by NATHALIA CRANE    Poem Text                    
First Line: There was only one first sergeant
Last Line: Who ever went to france.
Subject(s): Soldiers; World War I; First World War


THE REAR-GUARD, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis         Recitation     Poet's Biography
First Line: Groping along the tunnel, step by step
Last Line: Unloading hell behind him step by step.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


THE REAWAKENING, by WALTER JOHN DE LA MARE    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Green in light are the hills, and a calm wind flowing
Last Line: Springs, like a child from the womb, when the lonely one calls.
Alternate Author Name(s): Ramal, Walter; De La Mare, Walter
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


THE RECRUIT, by ISABEL ECCLESTONE MACKAY    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: His mother bids him go without a tear
Last Line: To look upon itself and live—or die!
Subject(s): Mothers & Sons; Soldiers; World War I; First World War


THE RED CHRISTMAS, by WILLIAM H. DRAPER    Poem Text                    
First Line: O take away the mistletoe
Last Line: Twined with the holly berry.
Alternate Author Name(s): Draper, W. H.
Subject(s): Christmas; World War I; Nativity, The; First World War


THE RED COUNTRY, by WILLIAM ROSE BENET    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: In the red country
Last Line: With your secret eyes, and sow for us, that we must reap again?
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


THE RED CROSS NURSE, by KATHARINE LEE BATES    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: One summer day, gleaming in memory
Subject(s): World War I; Red Cross; Nurses; First World War


THE RED CROSS NURSES, by THOMAS LANSING MASSON    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Out where the line of battle cleaves
Last Line: The red cross nurses stand.
Alternate Author Name(s): Masson, Tom
Subject(s): Nurses; Red Cross; World War I; First World War


THE RED CROSS SPIRIT SPEAKS, by JOHN FINLEY (1874-)    Poem Text                    
First Line: Wherever war with its red woes
Last Line: Of war's red line.
Subject(s): Red Cross; World War I; First World War


THE RED RETREAT, by ROBERT WILLIAM SERVICE    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Tramp, tramp, the grim road, the road from mons to wipers
Last Line: The graves of me mateys there, the grim, sour graves.
Subject(s): Death; War; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


THE REDEEMER, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Darkness: the rain sluiced down; the mire was deep
Last Line: Mumbling: 'o christ almighty, now I'm stuck!'
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


THE RETURN, by ELEANOR ROGERS COX    Poem Text                    
First Line: Golden through the golden morning
Last Line: From the soul's despair.
Subject(s): Death; Soldiers; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


THE RETURN, by JOHN FREEMAN    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: I heard the rumbling guns. I saw the smoke
Last Line: And I heard beauty singing up the hill.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


THE RETURN OF AUGUST, by PERCY MACKAYE    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Darkly a mortal age has come and gone
Last Line: The summer wanes: the ploughman comes with spring.
Alternate Author Name(s): Mackaye, Percy Wallace
Subject(s): Death; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


THE REVELATION, by ROBERT WILLIAM SERVICE    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: The same old sprint in the morning, boys, to the same old din and smut
Last Line: But all of us wonder what we'll do when we have to go back again.
Subject(s): Death; War; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


THE RIVAL SCHOOLS, by WILLIAM A. PHELON    Poem Text                    
First Line: Trained in the ways of blood and iron
Last Line: "urged on by ""high-born"" power?"
Subject(s): Soldiers; World War I; First World War


THE ROAD, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: The road is thronged with women: soldiers pass
Last Line: The road would serve you well enough for bed.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


THE ROAD TO DIEPPE, by JOHN FINLEY (1874-)    Poem Text                    
First Line: Before I knew, the dawn was on the road
Last Line: Forget long hates in one consummate faith.
Subject(s): Dieppe, France; World War I; First World War


THE ROAD TO FRANCE, by DANIEL MACINTYRE HENDERSON    Poem Text                    
First Line: Thank god, our liberating lance
Last Line: See, with what proud hearts we advance to france!
Subject(s): France; Patriotism; World War I; First World War


THE RUBAIYAT OF BATTLE, by WILLIAM A. PHELON    Poem Text                    
First Line: Wake--for the dawn has come, and o'er the top
Last Line: And seek repose amid the hostile dead!
Subject(s): Death; Soldiers; War; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


THE SEA FIGHT; IN MEMORIAM CAPTAIN PROWSE, by THOMAS HARDY    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Down went the grand 'queen mary'
Last Line: With his comrades all around.
Subject(s): Sea Battles; World War I; Naval Warfare; First World War


THE SEARCHLIGHTS, by ALFRED NOYES    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Shadow by shadow, stripped for fight
Last Line: She moves to the eternal goal.
Subject(s): Morality; World War I; Ethics; First World War


THE SEND-OFF, by WILFRED OWEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Down the close darkening lanes they sang their way
Last Line: Up half-known roads.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; War; World War I; First World War


THE SENTRY, by WILFRED OWEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: We'd found an old boche dug-out, and he knew
Last Line: "I see your lights!"" but ours had long died out."
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


THE SENTRY'S MISTAKE, by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: The chapel at the crossways bore no scar
Last Line: "made him once more ""the terror of the hun."
Alternate Author Name(s): Blunden, Edmund
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


THE SHADOW OF DEATH, by ROBERT RANKE GRAVES    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Here's an end to my art! / I must die and I know it
Last Line: I may father no longer!
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


THE SHIP OF LIBERTY; LINES ON THE LAUNCHING OF THE 'NEWBURGH', by ROBERT UNDERWOOD JOHNSON    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: O ship of liberty!
Last Line: Our hearts go forth with thee.
Subject(s): Ships & Shipping; World War I; First World War


THE SHIPS OF GRIEF, by JOHN DRINKWATER    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: On seas where every pilot fails
Last Line: There is a sun will strike the sea.
Subject(s): Grief; Ships & Shipping; World War I; Sorrow; Sadness; First World War


THE SHIPS THAT NEVER FOUGHT, by WILLIAM A. PHELON    Poem Text                    
First Line: The great gray ships come slowly in, and range
Last Line: And yet no stain or shame is theirs—the ships that never fought!
Subject(s): Ships & Shipping; War; World War I; First World War


THE SHORT ROAD TO HEAVEN, by KATHARINE TYNAN    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: There's a short road to heaven, but you must take it young
Last Line: The night darkens on them—and there's god at the door.
Alternate Author Name(s): Hinkson, Katharine Tynan
Subject(s): Heaven; Mothers; Roads; War; World War I; Youth; Paradise; Paths; Trails; First World War


THE SHOW, by WILFRED OWEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: My soul looked down from a vague height with death
Last Line: And the fresh-severed head of it, my head.
Subject(s): Death; Soldiers' Writings; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


THE SIGN, by FREDERIC MANNING    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: We are here in a wood of little beeches
Last Line: Across the moon.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


THE SILVER STRIPES, by EDGAR ALBERT GUEST    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: When we've honored the heroes returning from france
Last Line: Though they've only the silver to show.
Alternate Author Name(s): Guest, Eddie
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


THE SKY-SENT DEATH, by WALTER JAMES REDFERN TURNER    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Sitting on a stone a shepherd
Last Line: Free, in no man's keeping.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


THE SOLDIER SPEAKS, by JOHN GALSWORTHY    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: If courage thrives on reeking slaughter
Last Line: We have gone down to fight!
Alternate Author Name(s): Sinjohn, John
Subject(s): Soldiers; World War I; First World War


THE SOLDIER'S SEA CHANGE, by DANIEL HUGH VERDER    Poem Text                    
First Line: What do you carry, slow moving ship
Last Line: Crimsons the dismal flowing flood.
Subject(s): Death; Patriotism; Soldiers; War - Casualties (statistics, Etc.); World War I; Youth; Dead, The; First World War


THE SOLDIERS OF THE DUSK, by FENTON JOHNSON    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Black men holding up the earth
Last Line: Victims of the war god's lust.
Subject(s): African Americans - Military; World War I; First World War


THE SONG OF THE PACIFIST, by ROBERT WILLIAM SERVICE    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: What do they matter, our headlong hates, when we take the toll
Last Line: In the name of the dead the banner of peace . . . That will be victory.
Subject(s): Pacifism; War; World War I; Peace Movements; First World War


THE SONG OF THE SOLDIER-BORN, by ROBERT WILLIAM SERVICE    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Give me the scorn of the stars and a peak defiant
Last Line: Death in my boots may-be, but fighting, fighting.
Subject(s): Soldiers; War; World War I; First World War


THE SPECTRAL ARMY, by GRETCHEN OSGOOD WARREN    Poem Text                    
First Line: I dream that on far heaven's steep
Last Line: They left the reckoning to god.
Subject(s): Death; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


THE SPIRES OF OXFORD, by WINIFRED MARY LETTS    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: I saw the spires of oxford
Last Line: Than even oxford town.
Subject(s): Oxford University; World War I; First World War


THE SPOILS OF WAR, by ROBERT UNDERWOOD JOHNSON    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: What does our soldier bring from war?
Last Line: Could knightly soldier bring from war?
Subject(s): Army - United States; World War I; First World War


THE SPRING IN IRELAND: 1916, by JAMES STEPHENS    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Do not forget my charge I beg of you
Last Line: We sail away -- be with us mananan!
Subject(s): Ireland; Spring; World War I; Irish; First World War


THE STARS IN THEIR COURSES, by JOHN FREEMAN    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: And now, while the dark vast earth shakes
Last Line: On these disastrous wars!
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


THE STEEPLE, by PATRICK REGINALD CHALMERS    Poem Text                    
First Line: There's mist in the hollows
Last Line: For birds and for bells!
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


THE STILL HOUR, by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: As in the silent darkening room I lay
Last Line: Whence one deep moaning, one deep moaning came.
Alternate Author Name(s): Blunden, Edmund
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


THE STORM, by EUGENIO MONTALE    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: The storm that trickles its long march
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


THE STRETCHER-BEARER, by ROBERT WILLIAM SERVICE    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: My stretcher is one scarlet stain
Last Line: O prince of peace! 'ow long, 'ow long?
Subject(s): Army Life; War; World War I; Drills & Minor Tactics; First World War


THE SUPERMAN, by ROBERT GRANT (1852-1940)    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Horror-haunted belgian plains riven by shot and shell
Last Line: Let chaos come, let moloch rule, and christ give place to baal.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


THE SURVIVAL OF THE UNFIT, by HEINRICH LEHR    Poem Text                    
First Line: A trillion trillion years ago
Last Line: And grow into the sons of god.
Subject(s): Army - United States; Military; Soldiers; Survival; World War I; First World War


THE SWORD OF LAFAYETTE (INSCRIBED TO RAYMOND POINCARE), by ROBERT UNDERWOOD JOHNSON    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: It was the time of our despair
Last Line: The sacred sword of lafayette.
Subject(s): Lafayette, Marie Joseph, Marquis De; World War I; First World War


THE TOAST OF MARS, by MARY E. OAKES    Poem Text                    
First Line: My ghastly cry I raise on high
Last Line: I give you the toast of mars!
Subject(s): Goddesses & Gods; Mythology; Soldiers; World War I; First World War


THE TOMBSTONE-MAKER, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: He primmed his loose red mouth and leaned his head
Last Line: O sir, that christian souls should come to that!'
Subject(s): Graves; Mourning; Soldiers' Writings; World War I; Tombs; Tombstones; Bereavement; First World War


THE TOY BAND (A SONG OF THE GREAT RETREAT), by HENRY JOHN NEWBOLT    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Dreary lay the long road, dreary lay the town
Last Line: Fall in! Fall in! Follow the fife and drum!
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


THE TRAITORS OF CAPORETTO; A LEGEND OF TODAY, by ROBERT UNDERWOOD JOHNSON    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Whose feet are these that plod all day
Last Line: Shall perish as they fall.
Subject(s): Army - Italy; Caporetto, Battle Of (1917); Italy; Treason & Traitors; World War I; Italians; First World War


THE TRENCHES, by ROBERT RANKE GRAVES    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Scratches in the dirt? / no, that sounds much too nice
Last Line: Squash! And he needs no twice.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


THE TRENCHES, by FREDERIC MANNING    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Endless lanes sunken in the clay
Last Line: Night for menace with weary eyes.
Subject(s): Death; Soldiers' Writings; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


THE TROOP SHIP, by ISAAC ROSENBERG    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Grotesque and queerly huddled
Last Line: Ale on your face.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


THE TROOPS, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Dim, gradual thinning of the shapeless gloom
Last Line: The legions who have suffered and are dust.
Variant Title(s): Prelude: The Troops
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


THE TROUBLED SPIRIT, by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Said god, go, spirit, thou hast served me well
Last Line: Some weariness, while time smiles to himself.
Alternate Author Name(s): Blunden, Edmund
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


THE TWINS, by ROBERT WILLIAM SERVICE    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: There were two brothers, john and james
Last Line: And john? Well, search the potter's field.
Subject(s): Brothers; War; World War I; Half-brothers; First World War


THE U-BOAT CREWS, by KATHARINE LEE BATES    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Alas, alas for those blond boys who stalk
Subject(s): Navy - Germany; Submarines; World War I; Submarine Warfare; U-boats; First World War


THE UNCHANGEABLE, by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Though I within these last two years of grace
Alternate Author Name(s): Blunden, Edmund
Subject(s): World War I; Human Behavior; First World War; Conduct Of Life; Human Nature


THE UNDEFEATED FLAG, by WILLIAM A. PHELON    Poem Text                    
First Line: Aye, set that banner in the sky--let every towering crag
Last Line: Show out old glory in the sun—the undefeated flag!
Subject(s): Flags - United States; World War I; American Flag; First World War


THE UNDERGRADUATE KILLED IN BATTLE; OXFORD, 1915, by GEORGE SANTAYANA    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Sweet as the lawn beneanth his sandalled tread
Last Line: And in unwitting lordship saw the blue.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


THE UNDYING, by JOHN FREEMAN    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: In thin clear light unshadowed shapes go by
Last Line: Ripe berries on neglected boughs that wasted.
Subject(s): Childhood Memories; Death; Grief; World War I; Dead, The; Sorrow; Sadness; First World War


THE UNRETURNING, by CLINTON SCOLLARD    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: For us, the dead, though young
Last Line: That we have died in vain!
Subject(s): Death; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW, by EDWIN ARLINGTON ROBINSON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: There were faces to remember in the valley of the shadow
Last Line: Maimed.
Subject(s): Death; Life; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


THE VETERAN; MAY, 1916, by MARGARET ISABEL POSTGATE COLE    Poem Text                    
First Line: We came upon him sitting in the sun
Last Line: "nineteen, the third of may."
Subject(s): Veterans; Women; World War I; Youth; First World War


THE VICTOR OF THE MARNE (INSCRIBED TO JOSEPH JACQUES CESAIRE JOFFRE), by ROBERT UNDERWOOD JOHNSON    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Come, may, thou darling of the year
Last Line: In spite of frontiers and of flags the world shall be as one.
Subject(s): Joffre, Joseph Jacques (1852-1931); World War I; First World War


THE VINDICTIVE, by ALFRED NOYES    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: How should we praise those lads of the old vindictive
Last Line: In those red gates of hell?
Subject(s): Death; Desire; England; Fear; Hearts; Ships & Shipping; Soul; World War I; Dead, The; English; First World War


THE VIRGIN OF ALBERT (NOTRE DAME DE BREBIERES), by GEORGE HERBERT CLARKE    Poem Text                    
First Line: Shyly expectant, gazing up at her
Last Line: "and comfort them, and hearken all their prayers!"
Subject(s): Notre Dame De Brebieres (basilica); Prayer; World War I; First World War


THE VISION OF SPRING, 1916, by HENRY HOWARTH BASHFORD    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: All night in a cottage far
Last Line: Lo, the dawn out-topped the night.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


THE VOICE OF THE GUNS, by GILBERT FRANKAU    Poem Text                    
First Line: We are the guns, and your masters! Saw ye our flashes?
Last Line: Loose them, and shatter, and spare not! We are the guns!
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


THE VOLUNTEER, by HERBERT HENRY ASQUITH    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Here lies a clerk who half his life had spent
Last Line: Who goes to join the men of agincourt.
Alternate Author Name(s): Oxford And Asquith, 1st Earl
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


THE VOLUNTEER, by ROBERT WILLIAM SERVICE    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Sez I: my country calls? Well, let it call
Last Line: I've gotta go, bill, gotta go.
Subject(s): War; World War I; First World War


THE VOLUNTEER (1914-1919), by ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: The dreams are passed and gone, old man
Last Line: Carry on, old sport, carry on!
Subject(s): England; Military Recruitment; Soldiers; World War I; English; First World War


THE WAKENED GOD, by MARGARET WIDDEMER    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: The war-god wakened drowsily
Last Line: And scourged the crouching lands again.
Alternate Author Name(s): Schauffler, Mrs. Robert H.
Variant Title(s): The Awakened War God
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


THE WAR FILMS, by HENRY JOHN NEWBOLT    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: O living pictures of the dead
Last Line: To take their death for mine.
Subject(s): Death; Religion; World War I; Dead, The; Theology; First World War


THE WAR IN EUROPE: 1915; ABDALLAH OF CAIRO SPEAKS, by EDNA DEAN PROCTOR    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: By the prophet! If these be christians, where shall / we find the heathen?
Last Line: I will repeat the fátiha and leave them to their doom!
Alternate Author Name(s): Dean
Subject(s): Muslims; Prayer; Religion; World War I; Moslems; Theology; First World War


THE WATCHERS, by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: I heard the challenge 'who goes there?'
Last Line: When I at last am seen and known.
Alternate Author Name(s): Blunden, Edmund
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


THE WELCOME, by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: He'd scarcely come from leave and london
Last Line: While any of those who were there have tongues.
Alternate Author Name(s): Blunden, Edmund
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


THE WEST FRONT, by ROBERT SEYMOUR BRIDGES    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: No country know I so well
Last Line: Nor lorn jerusalem.
Alternate Author Name(s): Bridges, Robert+(2)
Subject(s): Masefield, John (1878-1967); Somme, Battle Of The (1916); World War I; First World War


THE WHISTLE OF SANDY MCGRAW, by ROBERT WILLIAM SERVICE    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: You may talk o' your lutes and your dulcimers fine
Last Line: You wee penny whistle o' sandy mcgraw.
Subject(s): Death; Music & Musicians; War; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


THE WHITE SHIPS AND THE RED, by ALFRED JOYCE KILMER    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: With drooping sail and pennant
Last Line: But one -- shall be like blood.
Alternate Author Name(s): Kilmer, Joyce
Subject(s): Ghost Ships; Lusitania (ship); Submarines; World War I; Submarine Warfare; U-boats; First World War


THE WIFE OF LLEW, by FRANCIS LEDWIDGE    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: And gwydion said to math, when it was spring
Last Line: And bore away his wife of birds and flowers.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


THE WINE PRESS, by ALFRED NOYES    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: A murdered man, ten miles away
Last Line: Thro' a red volcanic sky ...
Subject(s): Death; Drinks & Drinking; Murder; Soldiers; World War I; Dead, The; Wine; First World War


THE WORLD WAR, by AMOS RUSSEL WELLS    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: This -- after nineteen centuries of christ!
Last Line: And let this worst of warfare be the last!
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


THE YOUNG MOTHER, by KATHARINE TYNAN    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: In dreadful times of death and war
Last Line: With frankincense and myrrh.
Alternate Author Name(s): Hinkson, Katharine Tynan
Subject(s): Comfort; Mothers; War; World War I; First World War


THE ZONNEBEKE ROAD, by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Morning, if this late withered light can claim
Last Line: And freeze you back with that one hope, disdain.
Alternate Author Name(s): Blunden, Edmund
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


THEIR VERY MEMORY, by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Hear, o hear / they were as the welling waters
Last Line: Tears of joy and music's rally.
Alternate Author Name(s): Blunden, Edmund
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


THEN AND NOW, by THOMAS HARDY    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: When battles were fought
Last Line: Stab first.'
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


THERE IS BUT ONE, by CHARLES LOUIS HENRY WAGNER    Poem Text                    
First Line: I have sung of blood and battle
Last Line: Have I made my lesson plain?
Subject(s): Clergy; Good; Religion; World War I; Priests; Rabbis; Ministers; Bishops; Theology; First World War


THERE WILL COME SOFT RAINS', by SARA TEASDALE    Poem Text         Poet Analysis         Recitation     Poet's Biography
First Line: There will come soft rain and the smell of the ground
Last Line: Would scarcely know that we were gone.
Alternate Author Name(s): Filsinger, Ernest B., Mrs.
Subject(s): Spring; War - Home Front; Women; World War I; First World War


THEY', by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: The bishop tells us: 'when the boys come back'
Last Line: And the bishop said: 'the ways of god are strange!'
Subject(s): Religion; Soldiers' Writings; World War I; Theology; First World War


THIRD YPRES, by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN    Poem Text     Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Triumph! How strange, how strong had triumph come
Last Line: The dead men from that chaos, or my soul?
Alternate Author Name(s): Blunden, Edmund
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


THOMAS OF THE LIGHT HEART, by OWEN SEAMAN    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Facing the guns, he jokes as well
Last Line: Nor play what isn't cricket. There's his creed.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


THOSE OTHERS, by ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Where are those others? - the men who stood
Last Line: As the hallowed host goes by!
Subject(s): Death; England; Patriotism; Praise; Soldiers; War; World War I; Dead, The; English; First World War


THREE HILLS, by EDWARD CHARLES EVERARD OWEN    Poem Text                    
First Line: There is a hill in england
Last Line: To souls in jeopardy.
Subject(s): Crucifixion; Death; Mountains; Soldiers; War; World War I; Jesus Christ - Crucifixion; Dead, The; Hills; Downs (great Britain); First World War


THROUGH THE MEUSE-ARGONNE TODAY, by ROBERT CARY    Poem Text                    
First Line: Not fraught with death and havoc the campaign
Last Line: As through the meuse-argonne they lead the way.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


THRUSHES, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Tossed on the glittering air they soar and skim
Last Line: And storms the gate of nothingness for proof.
Subject(s): Birds; Soldiers' Writings; Thrushes; World War I; First World War


TIPPERARY DAYS, by ROBERT WILLIAM SERVICE    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Oh, weren't they the fine boys! You never saw the beat of them
Last Line: ('r! Ain't war just 'ell?)
Subject(s): Army Life; Death; War; World War I; Drills & Minor Tactics; Dead, The; First World War


TO A BULL-DOG, by JOHN COLLINGS SQUIRE    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: We shan't see willie [or, willy] any more, mamie
Last Line: And he won't be coming here any more.
Alternate Author Name(s): Eagle, Solomon; Squire, J. C.
Subject(s): Animals; Dogs; World War I; First World War


TO A CANADIAN AVIATOR WHO DIED FOR HIS COUNTRY IN FRANCE, by DUNCAN CAMPBELL SCOTT    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Tossed like a falcon from the hunter's wrist
Last Line: Mounting in circles, faithful beyond death.
Alternate Author Name(s): Scott, D. C.
Subject(s): Aviation & Aviators; World War I; First World War


TO A FRIEND WANTING WAR, by MAXWELL STRUTHERS BURT    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: I trust that when the bugles blow
Last Line: To think on death's monotony.
Alternate Author Name(s): Burt, Struthers
Subject(s): Death; Murder; Social Protest; Soldiers; War; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


TO A MOTHER, by EDEN PHILLPOTTS    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Robbed mother of the stricken motherland
Last Line: Eden phillpotts
Subject(s): Mothers & Sons; World War I; First World War


TO A SCHOOLMATE-KILLED IN ACTION, by HAROLD TROWBRIDGE PULSIFER    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Gordan rand, we saw you last
Last Line: We salute you, -- gordan rand!
Subject(s): Death; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


TO A SKYLARK BEHIND OUR TRENCHES, by EDWARD DE STEIN    Poem Text                    
First Line: Thou little voice! Thou happy sprite
Last Line: We live.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


TO A WAR POET, by LOUIS UNTERMEYER    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: You sang the battle
Alternate Author Name(s): Lewis, Michael
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


TO ALEXANDER THE GREAT, by WILLIAM A. PHELON    Poem Text                    
First Line: No more he walks across the field
Last Line: When he comes home again!
Subject(s): Alexander, Grover Cleveland (1887-1950); Athletes; Baseball; Soldiers; Sports; World War I; First World War


TO AMERICA, by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: How would you have us, as we are?
Last Line: Or tightening chains about your feet?
Subject(s): Justice; World War I; First World War


TO AMERICA, ON HER FIRST SONS FALLEN IN THE GREAT WAR, by E. M. WALKER    Poem Text                    
First Line: Now you are one with us, you know our tears
Last Line: "to those who hear far heaven cry, ""well done!"
Subject(s): Death; Enright, Thomas F.; Gresham, James D.; Hay, Merle D.; Soldiers; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


TO AN OLD LADY SEEN AT A GUEST-HOUSE FOR SOLDIERS, by ALEXANDER ROBERTSON    Poem Text                    
First Line: Quiet thou didst stand at thine appointed place
Last Line: The radiance of thy benignity.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


TO ANY DEAD OFFICER, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Well, how are things in heaven? I wish you'd say
Last Line: I wish they'd killed you in a decent show.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


TO BELGIUM, by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: For right, not might, you fought. The foe
Last Line: For right, not might.
Alternate Author Name(s): Dobson, Austin
Subject(s): Belgium; World War I; First World War


TO CERTAIN POETS, by ALFRED JOYCE KILMER    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Now is the rhymer's honest trade
Last Line: And leave the poet's craft to men!
Alternate Author Name(s): Kilmer, Joyce
Subject(s): Poetry & Poets; Soldiers; World War I; First World War


TO E. T.: 1917, by WALTER JOHN DE LA MARE    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: You sleep too well - too far away
Last Line: Had wept for you, my dear.
Alternate Author Name(s): Ramal, Walter; De La Mare, Walter
Subject(s): Thomas, Edward (1878-1917); World War I; First World War


TO GERMANY, by CHARLES HAMILTON SORLEY    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: You are blind like us. Your hurt no man designed
Last Line: The darkness and the thunder and the rain.
Subject(s): Germany; World War I; Germans; First World War


TO HIS DEAD BODY, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: When roaring gloom surged inward and you cried
Last Line: Dear, red-faced father god who lit your mind.
Subject(s): Death; Mourning; Soldiers' Writings; World War I; Dead, The; Bereavement; First World War


TO HIS EXCELLENCY, by ROBERT SEYMOUR BRIDGES    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: One of all our brave commanders
Last Line: In the streets of proud berlin.'
Alternate Author Name(s): Bridges, Robert+(2)
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


TO HIS LOVE, by IVOR GURNEY    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: He's gone, and all our plans
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


TO ITALY, by ROBERT UNDERWOOD JOHNSON    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Mother of noble minds! How shall we pay
Last Line: Whose forward spirit debtors every race!
Subject(s): Army - Italy; World War I; First World War


TO JANE ADDAMS AT THE HAGUE: 1. SPEAK NOW FOR PEACE, by NICHOLAS VACHEL LINDSAY    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Lady of light, and our best woman, and queen
Last Line: Back of the smoke is the promise of kindness again.
Alternate Author Name(s): Lindsay, Vachel
Subject(s): Addams, Jane (1860-1935); Lusitania (ship); Peace; Reform & Reformers; World War I; First World War


TO JANE ADDAMS AT THE HAGUE: 1. TOLSTOI IS PLOWING YET, by NICHOLAS VACHEL LINDSAY    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Tolstoi is plowing yet. When the smoke clouds break
Last Line: Forward, across the field, his horses go.
Alternate Author Name(s): Lindsay, Vachel
Subject(s): Tolstoy, Leo (1828-1910); World War I; First World War


TO LEONIDE MASSINE IN 'CLEOPATRA', by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: O beauty doomed and perfect for an hour
Last Line: Be still; you have drained the cup; you have played your part.
Subject(s): Ballet; Dancing & Dancers; Massine, Leonide (1896-1979); World War I; First World War


TO LUCASTA ON GOING TO THE WARS FOR THE FOURTH TIME, by ROBERT RANKE GRAVES    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: It doesn't matter what's the cause
Last Line: And his pride keeps him here.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


TO MILITARY PROGRESS, by MARIANNE MOORE    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: You use your mind
Last Line: Red.
Variant Title(s): To The Soul Of 'progress'
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


TO MY BROTHER, by MILES JEFFREY GAME DAY    Poem Text                    
First Line: This will I do when we have peace again
Last Line: Proving your presence near, in spite of death.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


TO MY BROTHER, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Give me your hand, my brother, search my face
Last Line: And through your victory I shall win the light.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


TO MY BROTHER; KILLED: CHAUMONT WOOD, OCTOBER, 1918, by LOUISE BOGAN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: O you so long dead
Last Line: The language as long as the language survives
Alternate Author Name(s): Holden, Raymond, Mrs.
Subject(s): World War I; Brothers; Death; Time; First World War


TO MY COUNTRY, by CHARLES HANSON TOWNE    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: One told me he had heard it whispered: 'lo!'
Last Line: Suffer and bleed, and tell the world good-by!
Subject(s): Patriotism; World War I; First World War


TO MY DAUGHTER BETTY, THE GIFT OF GOD (ELIZABETH DOROTHY), by THOMAS MICHAEL KETTLE    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: In wiser days, my darling rosebud, blown
Last Line: And for the secret scripture of the poor.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


TO MY PUPILS, GONE BEFORE THEIR DAY, by GUY KENDALL    Poem Text                    
First Line: You seemed so young, to know
Last Line: Eternity awaits us to correct.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


TO OUR PRESIDENT, by KATHARINE LEE BATES    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Hope of the nations, lift thy stricken heart
Subject(s): World War I; Wilson, Woodrow (1856-1924); First World War


TO PADEREWSKI, PATRIOT, by ROBERT UNDERWOOD JOHNSON    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Son of a martyred race, that long
Last Line: Shall plead for thy distracted land.
Subject(s): Composers; Music & Musicians; Paderewski, Ignacy Jan (1860-1941); World War I; First World War


TO ROBERT NICHOLS, by ROBERT RANKE GRAVES    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Here by a snowbound river
Last Line: And singing birds are mute.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


TO STATECRAFT EMBALMED, by MARIANNE MOORE    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: There is nothing to be said for you. Guard
Last Line: Foe.
Subject(s): Thoth (egyptian God); World War I; First World War


TO THE 'REFUGEES' OF THE BOSTON AUTHORS CLUB, by AMOS RUSSEL WELLS    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Right welcome, adventurers all!
Last Line: We are glad you are home again!
Subject(s): Authors And Authorship; World War I; First World War


TO THE FIRST GUN, by ROBERT UNDERWOOD JOHNSON    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Speak, silent, patient gun!
Last Line: Of all thy comrades, best.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


TO THE GIRL WHO HELPED IN THE WAR, by JOSEPHINE DODGE DASKAM BACON    Poem Text                    
First Line: Before the flag had floated free
Last Line: But it made a woman of you!
Subject(s): War - Home Front; Women; World War I; First World War


TO THE NECROPHILE, by WALTER CONRAD ARENSBERG    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: With love are you gone mad, o lover of france
Last Line: "not yours the human vow: ""till death us part!"
Subject(s): Disdain; France; Marriage; World War I; Scorn; Weddings; Husbands; Wives; First World War


TO THE OTHERS, by KATHARINE TYNAN    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: This was the gleam then that lured from far
Last Line: With the banner of christ over them—our knights new-made.
Alternate Author Name(s): Hinkson, Katharine Tynan
Subject(s): Women; World War I; First World War


TO THE PEACE PALACE AT THE HAGUE, by ROBERT UNDERWOOD JOHNSON    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Builded of love and joy and faith and hope
Last Line: Thou shalt be capitol of all the earth.
Subject(s): Hague, Netherlands; Peace; World War I; First World War


TO THE RETURNING BRAVE, by ROBERT UNDERWOOD JOHNSON    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Victorious knights without reproach or fear
Last Line: That liberty may greet you all, her shields of land and wave.
Subject(s): Homecoming; Soldiers; World War I; First World War


TO THE SPIRIT OF LUTHER, by ROBERT UNDERWOOD JOHNSON    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Luther, come back to thy degenerate land
Last Line: Brutes breed them bodies: who shall breed them souls?
Subject(s): Germany; Luther, Martin (1483-1546); World War I; Germans; First World War


TO THE WINGLESS VICTORY; A PRAYER, by GEORGE EDWARD WOODBERRY    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Wingless victory, whose shrine
Last Line: O wingless victory!
Subject(s): Air Warfare; World War I; First World War


TO VICTORY, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Return to greet me, colours that were my joy
Last Line: When the blithe wind laughs on the hills with uplifted voice.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


TO W. W. IN HASTE, by AMOS RUSSEL WELLS    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: We have given you our money, we have given you our boys
Last Line: Get excited! Go the limit! And -- then -- more!
Subject(s): Wilson, Woodrow (1856-1924); World War I; First World War


TOGETHER, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Splashing along the boggy woods all day
Last Line: But at the stable-door he'll say good-night.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


TORSO, by IWAN GOLL    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Europe, you shuddering torso!
Last Line: Europe, you crumbling torso, you rump of the world!
Alternate Author Name(s): Goll, Yvan
Subject(s): Europe; World War I; First World War


TRANSFORMATION, by CARL SANDBURG    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: In many homes / one sees old shrapnel cases
Last Line: Let me work.
Subject(s): Change; Death; Social Protest; Soldiers; War; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


TRANSPORT (COURCELLES), by FREDERIC MANNING    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: The moon swims in milkiness
Last Line: Then again the limbers and grotesque mules.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


TRANSPORT UP AT YPRES, by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: The thoroughfares that seem so dead to daylight passers-by
Last Line: While overhead with fleering light stare down those withered suns.
Alternate Author Name(s): Blunden, Edmund
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


TREES, by ALFRED JOYCE KILMER    Poem Text     Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: I think that I shall never see / a poem lovely as a tree
Last Line: But only god can make a tree.
Alternate Author Name(s): Kilmer, Joyce
Subject(s): Animals; Courage; Environment; Faith; Gardens & Gardening; Holidays; Religion; Soldiers; Travel; Trees; World War I; Valor; Bravery; Environmental Protection; Ecology; Conservation; Belief; Creed; Theology; Journeys; Trips; First World War


TREES ON THE CALAIS ROAD, by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Like mourners filing into church at a funeral
Last Line: Of that dead army driving by.
Alternate Author Name(s): Blunden, Edmund
Subject(s): Trees; World War I; First World War


TRENCH DUTY, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Shaken from sleep, and numbed and scarce awake
Last Line: Blank stars. I'm wide-awake; and some chap's dead.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


TRENCH IDYLL, by RICHARD ALDINGTON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: We sat together in the trench
Last Line: It's rather cold here, sir; suppose we move?
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


TRENCH NOMENCLATURE, by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Genius named them, as I live! What but genius could compress
Last Line: From the fabled vase the genie in his shattering horror came.
Alternate Author Name(s): Blunden, Edmund
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


TRENCH RAID NEAR HOOGE, by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: At an hour before the rosy-fingered
Last Line: Lit earth and heaven.
Alternate Author Name(s): Blunden, Edmund
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


TRENCHES: ST. ELOI, by THOMAS ERNEST HULME    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Over the flat slope of st. Eloi
Last Line: Nothing suggests itself. There is nothing to do but keep on.
Alternate Author Name(s): Hulme, T. E.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


TRI-COLOUR, by ROBERT WILLIAM SERVICE    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Poppies, you try to tell me, glowing there in the wheat
Last Line: God's accolade! Lift me up, friends. I'm going to win -- my cross.
Subject(s): Death; War; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


TWELVE MONTHS AFTER, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Hullo! Here's my platoon, the lot I had last year
Last Line: That's where they are to-day, knocked over to a man.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


TWENTY-ONE, by WILLIAM A. PHELON    Poem Text                    
First Line: I, that am twenty-one--a man--
Last Line: I, that am twenty-one—a man!
Variant Title(s): Twenty-one: The Youth
Subject(s): Soldiers; War; World War I; Youth; First World War


TWENTY-ONE: THE OLDER MAN, by WILLIAM A. PHELON    Poem Text                    
First Line: Could I be twenty-one again-
Last Line: Could I be twenty-one again!
Subject(s): Longing; Soldiers; World War I; Youth; First World War


TWO FLAGS UPON WESTMINSTER TOWERS, by ROBERT UNDERWOOD JOHNSON    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: This day is holy' - so sweet spenser wrote
Last Line: From these free flags -- if you can see for tears!
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


TWO FUSILIERS, by ROBERT RANKE GRAVES    Poem Text     Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: And have we done with war at last? / well, we've been lucky devils both
Last Line: In dead men breath.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


TWO HUNDRED YEARS AFTER, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Trudging by corbie ridge one winter's night
Last Line: Who came to fight in france and got their fill.'
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


TWO IMPRESSIONS, by RICHARD ALDINGTON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: The colorless morning glides upward
Last Line: Brushed amorously backward!
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


TWO POEMS FROM THE WAR: 1, by ARCHIBALD MACLEISH    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Oh, not the loss of the accomplished thing!
Last Line: All-possible irradiance of dawn.
Alternate Author Name(s): Fleming, Archibald
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


TWO POEMS FROM THE WAR: 2, by ARCHIBALD MACLEISH    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Like moon-dark, like brown water you escape
Last Line: All beauty has become your dwelling place.
Alternate Author Name(s): Fleming, Archibald
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


TWO SONGS: 1, by CECIL DAY LEWIS    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: I've heard them lilting at loom and belting
Alternate Author Name(s): Blake, Nicolas
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


TWO VOICES, by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: There's something in the air, he said
Last Line: "and still ""we're going south, man,"" deadly near."
Alternate Author Name(s): Blunden, Edmund
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


TWO: 3, by EDWARD ESTLIN CUMMINGS    Poem Text     Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Next to of course god america I
Alternate Author Name(s): Cummings, E. E.
Subject(s): Americans; Freedom; Hypocrisy; Patriotism; Politics & Government; United States; World War I; Liberty; America; First World War


UN BEL DI VEDREMO, by KENNETH REXROTH    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Hello nbc, this is london speaking'
Subject(s): Italy; War; World War I; World War Ii; Italians; First World War; Second World War


UNTO THE END, by HENRY CHAPPELL    Poem Text                    
First Line: Heroic words, like a trumpet's blast
Last Line: Endure unto the end.
Subject(s): Nicholas Ii, Czar Of Russia (1868-1918); Russia; Soldiers; World War I; Soviet Union; Russians; First World War


UPON THE WINDS OF SPRING, by MARY CRAIG SINCLAIR    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: I feel the terror in the world tonight
Last Line: Pain stabs my heart and binds the wound with fear!
Alternate Author Name(s): Sinclair, Upton, Mrs.
Subject(s): Death; Social Protest; Soldiers; Spring; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


VERDUN, by EDEN PHILLPOTTS    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Three hundred thousand men, but not enough
Last Line: Thou star upon the crown of liberty!
Subject(s): Verdun, Battle Of (1916); World War I; First World War


VERMONT WILL DO HER PART, by DANIEL LEAVENS CADY    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Who would be free himself must strike
Last Line: Will do her glorious part.
Subject(s): Freedom; Vermont; World War I; Liberty; First World War


VICTORY AND FAILURE, by ALAN MACKINTOSH    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Not for the day of victory
Last Line: To die along with you!
Alternate Author Name(s): Mackintosh, Ewart Alan
Subject(s): Brotherhood; Death; Failure; Honor; Soldiers; Victory; War; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


VICTORY BELLS, by GRACE HAZARD CONKLING    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: I heard the bells across the trees
Last Line: And home-coming for weary men.
Subject(s): Bells; Holidays; Patriotism; Veterans Day; World War I; First World War


VISIONS OF ITALY (AFTER CAPORETTO), by ROBERT UNDERWOOD JOHNSON    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: It was a black and baneful day
Last Line: As lover to his bride.
Subject(s): Caporetto, Battle Of (1917); Italy; World War I; Italians; First World War


VLAMERTINGHE: PASSING THE CHATEAU, JULY 1917, by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: And all her silken flanks with garlands drest
Last Line: Is scarcely right; this red should have been much duller.
Alternate Author Name(s): Blunden, Edmund
Subject(s): Belgium; World War I; First World War


W (VIVA): 30, by EDWARD ESTLIN CUMMINGS    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: I sing of olaf glad and big
Alternate Author Name(s): Cummings, E. E.
Subject(s): Social Protest; World War I; First World War


WAR, by WARREN ARIAIL    Poem Text                    
First Line: We faced each other, he and I
Last Line: I wear -- my souvenir of war.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


WAR, by ANDRE BRETON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: I watch the beast as it licks itself
Last Line: The beast licks its sex I said nothing
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


WAR, by REX WILLS    Poem Text                    
First Line: Out in the bleak, cold forests of the north
Last Line: Of god and man, of righteousness and reason.
Subject(s): Soldiers; War Injuries; World War I; First World War


WAR AUTOBIOGRAPHY; WRITTEN IN ILLNESS, by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Heaven is clouded, mists of rain
Last Line: That twice has passed before my sight.
Alternate Author Name(s): Blunden, Edmund
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


WAR PROFITS, by KATHARINE LEE BATES    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: The horns of the moon are tipped
Subject(s): Profiteering; World War I; First World War


WAR VERSE (1914), by EZRA POUND    Poem Text     Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: O two-penny poets, be still--
Last Line: From leman and brialmont.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


WAR YAWP, by RICHARD ALDINGTON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: America! / england's cheeky kid brother
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


WAR'S PEOPLE, by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Through the tender amaranthine domes
Last Line: Strange stars, and dream-like sounds, changed speech and law are ours.
Alternate Author Name(s): Blunden, Edmund
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


WAR-TIME IN THE MOUNTAINS, by ANN COBB    Poem Text                    
First Line: Dulcimer over the fireboard, hanging sence allusago
Last Line: Beat and beget sons and daughters to sing the old songs at his feet.
Subject(s): Dulcimers; Kentucky; Mountains; Music & Musicians; Wellesley College; World War I; Hills; Downs (great Britain); First World War


WARS, by CARL SANDBURG    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: In the old wars drum of hoofs and the beat of shod feet
Last Line: Dreamed out in the heads of men.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


WATCHMEN OF THE NIGHT, by CECIL EDRIC MORNINGTON ROBERTS    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Lords of the seas' great wilderness
Last Line: For sons who guard thee night and day!
Subject(s): Great Britain - Navy; World War I; First World War


WE ARE WITH FRANCE, by RICHARD THOMAS LE GALLIENNE    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: We are with france-not by the ties
Last Line: And leave our grown-up cares behind.
Subject(s): France; World War I; First World War


WE FACE THE FUTURE, by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: The hour is big with sooth and sign, with errant men at war
Last Line: Shod with a faith that springtime keeps, and all the stars opine.
Alternate Author Name(s): Tremaine, John
Subject(s): Future; World War I; First World War


WE HOPE TO WIN, by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: We hope to win?' by god's help - 'yes'
Last Line: We hope to win.
Alternate Author Name(s): Dobson, Austin
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


WE MOTHERS KNOW, by JOHN DRINKWATER    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Peace,' they have said
Last Line: It shall be so.
Subject(s): Mothers; World War I; First World War


WE WILLED IT NOT, by JOHN DRINKWATER    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: We willed it not. We have not lived in hate
Last Line: Not lightly shall the treason be atoned.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


WELCOME HOME, by PERCY STICKNEY GRANT    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Up the vast harbor, goal of millions of dreamers
Last Line: A brotherhood complete.
Subject(s): Homecoming; World War I; First World War


WHAT CAN WE DO?, by AMOS RUSSEL WELLS    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: At last, after patient years, we have grit and grace
Last Line: They shall have right to look god in the face.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


WHEN I'M KILLED, by ROBERT RANKE GRAVES    Poem Text     Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: When I'm killed, don't think of me
Last Line: Your playfellow from the grave.
Subject(s): Death; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


WHEN IT IS FINISHED, by MARJORIE LOWRY CHRISTIE PICKTHALL    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: When it is finished, father, and we set
Last Line: That we might live.
Subject(s): Peace; World War I; First World War


WHEN THERE IS PEACE, by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: When there is peace, our land no more
Last Line: When there is peace.
Alternate Author Name(s): Dobson, Austin
Subject(s): Peace; World War I; First World War


WHERE KITCHENER SLEEPS, by WILLIAM WILFRED CAMPBELL    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: O grim and iron-bastioned
Last Line: Thunder at bursay's feet?
Alternate Author Name(s): Campbell, W. W.
Subject(s): Kitchener, Horatio, 1st Earl (1850-1916); Sea; World War I; Ocean; First World War


WHERE MORNING GLORIES GLEAM, by WILLIAM A. PHELON    Poem Text                    
First Line: When the springtime mists are gray above the
Last Line: Where the morning glories gleam red, white, and blue above our dead!
Subject(s): Death; Soldiers; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


WILD WITH ALL REGRETS; ANOTHER VERSION OF 'A TERRE', by WILFRED OWEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: My arms have mutinied against me -- brutes!
Last Line: To do without what blood remained me from my wound.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


WILLIAM II PRINCE OF PEACE, by GEORGE SYLVESTER VIERECK    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: O prince of peace, o lord of war
Last Line: For if thou fail, a world shall fall!
Subject(s): William Ii, Kaiser Of Germany (1859-1941; World War I; First World War


WINGS IN THE NIGHT, by KATHARINE TYNAN    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Now in the soft spring midnight
Last Line: Over the wild grey water.
Alternate Author Name(s): Hinkson, Katharine Tynan
Subject(s): Birds; Comfort; Mothers; Soul; War; World War I; First World War


WINTER WARFARE, by EDGELL A. RICKWORD    Poem Text                    
First Line: Colonel cold strode up the line
Alternate Author Name(s): Rickword, E. A.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


WIRELESS, by ALFRED NOYES    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Now to those who search the deep
Last Line: And a little child may lead them.
Subject(s): Death; Night; Sea; Ships & Shipping; World War I; Dead, The; Bedtime; Ocean; First World War


WIRERS, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Pass it along, the wiring party's going out
Last Line: But we can say the front-line wire's been safely mended.
Subject(s): Soldiers' Writings; World War I; First World War


WOUNDED, by ROBERT WILLIAM SERVICE    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Is it not strange? A year ago today
Last Line: Lead on! I'll live to fight another day.
Subject(s): Death; War; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


YOUNG FELLOW MY LAD, by ROBERT WILLIAM SERVICE    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Where are you going, young fellow my lad
Last Line: "we will owe to our lads like you."
Subject(s): Death; War; World War I; Dead, The; First World War


YOUR LAD, AND MY LAD, by RANDALL PARRISH    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Down toward the deep-blue water, marching to throb of
Last Line: As your dear lad, and my dear lad, go on their way to france.
Subject(s): Army - United States; World War I; First World War


YOUTH IN ARMS, by ERON O. ROWLAND    Poem Text                    
First Line: O youth who erstwhile stood before thy elders
Last Line: Armed cap a pie?
Subject(s): World War I; Youth; First World War


YPRES, by RONALD GORELL BARNES    Poem Text                    
First Line: City of stark desolation
Last Line: Built in the heart of man.
Alternate Author Name(s): Gorell, 3d Baron
Subject(s): World War I; Ypres, Belgium; First World War


YPRES TOWER, RYE, by EDWARD CHARLES EVERARD OWEN    Poem Text                    
First Line: Tower of ypres that watchest, gravely smiling
Last Line: Live your dreaming fens, your bastioned hill.
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


YPRES; SEPTEMBER, 1915, by ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Push on, my lord of wurtemberg, across the flemish fen!
Last Line: Come, try your luck, whatever fate befalls you.
Subject(s): England; Errors; Failure; Germany; Regret; Soldiers; War; World War I; Ypres, Belgium; English; Mistakes; Fallacies; Germans; First World War


ZERO, by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: O rosy red, o torrent splendour
Last Line: It's plain we were born for this, naught else.
Alternate Author Name(s): Blunden, Edmund
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


ZILLEBEKE BROOK, by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: This conduit stream that's tangled here and there
Last Line: On my way up to sanctuary wood.
Alternate Author Name(s): Blunden, Edmund
Subject(s): Brooks; World War I; Streams; Creeks; First World War


ZONE, by GUILLAUME APOLLINAIRE    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: In the end you are weary of this ancient world
Alternate Author Name(s): Kostrowitzky, Wilhelm Apollina
Subject(s): Paris, France; World War I; First World War


ZONE, by GUILLAUME APOLLINAIRE    Poem Text     Poem Explanation                 Poet's Biography
First Line: After all you are weary of this oldtime world
Last Line: Sun cut throat
Alternate Author Name(s): Kostrowitzky, Wilhelm Apollina
Subject(s): Paris, France; World War I; First World War