The Listening Post

R.E. Vernède

Killed while leading an attack on Havrincourt Wood on the 9th of April 1917.

Written before March 1915

The sun's a red ball in the oak

And all the grass is grey with dew,

A while ago a blackbird spoke -

He didn't know the world's askew

And yonder rifleman and I

Wait here behind the misty trees

To shoot the first man that goes by,

Our rifles ready on our knees.

How could he know that if we fail

The world may lie in chains for years

And England be a bygone tale

And right be wrong, and laughter tears?

Click to return to our Poets' corner

Strange that this bird sits there and sings

While we must only sit and plan -

Who are so much the higher things -

The murder of our fellow man...

But maybe God will cause to be -

Who brought forth sweetness from the strong

Out of our discords harmony

Sweeter than that bird's song.