Back to Rest

W. N. Hodgson

Killed at the Battle of the Somme, on the 1st of July 1916

Written in September 1915

A leaping wind from England

The skies without a stain,

Clean cut against the morning

Slim poplars after rain,

The foolish noise of sparrows

And starlings in a wood -

After the grime of battle

We know that these are good.

Death whining down from Heaven,

Death roaring from the ground,

Death stinking in the nostril,

Death shrill in every sound,

Doubting we charged and conquered -

Hopeless we struck and stood.

Now when the fight is ended

We know that it was good.

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We that have seen the strongest

Cry like a beaten child,

The sanest eyes unholy,

The cleanest hands defiled,

We that have known the heart blood

Less than the lees of wine,

We that have seen men broken,

We know man is divine.