A second WW1 work by Ivor gurney. Most readers know of well known WW1 war one poets. I hope readers will look up and read more of Ivor Gurney. Today a hundred years a go. Marks the burial of the unknown warrior in Westminster Abby 1920.
WHO DIED ON THE WIRES, AND HUNG THERE, ONE OF TWO -
WHO FOR HIS HOURS OF LIFE CHATTED THROUGH
INFINITE LOVELY CHATTER OF A BUCKS* ACCENT;
YET FACED UNBROKEN WIRES; STEPPED OVER, AND WENT,
A NOBLE FOOL, FAITHFUL TO HIS STRIPES - AND ENDED.
BUT I WEAK, HUNGRY, AND WILLING ONLY FOR CHANCE.
OF LINE - TO FIGHT IN THE LINE, LAY DOWN UNDER UNBROKEN
WIRES, AND SAW THE FLASHES, AND KEPT UNSHAKEN.
TILL THE POLITEST VOICE - IN A FINICKING ACCENT, SAID:
'DO YOU THINK YOU MIGHT CRAWL THROUGH THERE; THERE'S A HOLE.'
DARKNESS, SHOT AT; I SMILED, AS POLITELY REPLIED -
' I'M AFRAID NOT SIR.' THERE WAS NO HOLE, NO WAY TO BE SEEN,
NOTHING BUT CHANCE OF DEATH, AFTER TEARING OF CLOTHS.
KEPT FLAT, AND WATCHED THE DARKNESS, HEARING BULLETS WHIZZING -
AND THOUGHT OF MUSIC - AND SWORE DEEP HEART'S DEEP OATHS.
(POLITE TO GOD -) AND RETREATED AND CAME ON AGAIN.
AGAIN RETREATED - AND A SECOND TIME FACED THE SCREEN.
*THE ENGLISH COUNTY OF BUCKINGHAMSHIRE
IVOR GURNEY
Poetry by ken d williams
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Written on 2020-11-12 at 02:00
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THE SILENT ONE (1917) IVOR GURNEY
THE SILENT ONE (1917)WHO DIED ON THE WIRES, AND HUNG THERE, ONE OF TWO -
WHO FOR HIS HOURS OF LIFE CHATTED THROUGH
INFINITE LOVELY CHATTER OF A BUCKS* ACCENT;
YET FACED UNBROKEN WIRES; STEPPED OVER, AND WENT,
A NOBLE FOOL, FAITHFUL TO HIS STRIPES - AND ENDED.
BUT I WEAK, HUNGRY, AND WILLING ONLY FOR CHANCE.
OF LINE - TO FIGHT IN THE LINE, LAY DOWN UNDER UNBROKEN
WIRES, AND SAW THE FLASHES, AND KEPT UNSHAKEN.
TILL THE POLITEST VOICE - IN A FINICKING ACCENT, SAID:
'DO YOU THINK YOU MIGHT CRAWL THROUGH THERE; THERE'S A HOLE.'
DARKNESS, SHOT AT; I SMILED, AS POLITELY REPLIED -
' I'M AFRAID NOT SIR.' THERE WAS NO HOLE, NO WAY TO BE SEEN,
NOTHING BUT CHANCE OF DEATH, AFTER TEARING OF CLOTHS.
KEPT FLAT, AND WATCHED THE DARKNESS, HEARING BULLETS WHIZZING -
AND THOUGHT OF MUSIC - AND SWORE DEEP HEART'S DEEP OATHS.
(POLITE TO GOD -) AND RETREATED AND CAME ON AGAIN.
AGAIN RETREATED - AND A SECOND TIME FACED THE SCREEN.
*THE ENGLISH COUNTY OF BUCKINGHAMSHIRE
IVOR GURNEY
Poetry by ken d williams
Read 239 times
Written on 2020-11-12 at 02:00
Save as a bookmark (requires login) Write a comment (requires login) Send as email (requires login) Print text
