PoemsbyWilfredOwenWithanIntroductionbySiegfriedSassoonIntroductionInwritinganIntroductionsuchasthisitisgoodtobebrief。

Thepoemsprintedinthisbookneednopreliminarycommendationsfrommeoranyoneelse。TheauthorhasleftushisownfragmentarybutimpressiveForeword；this，andhisPoems，canspeakforhim，backedbytheauthorityofhisexperienceasaninfantrysoldier，andsustainedbynobilityandoriginalityofstyle。AllthatwasstrongestinWilfredOwensurvivesinhispoems；anysuperficialimpressionsofhispersonality，anyrecordsofhisconversation，behaviour，orappearance，wouldbeirrelevantandunseemly。Thecuriositywhichdemandssuchmorselswouldbeincapableofappreciatingtherichnessofhiswork。

Thediscussionofhisexperimentsinassonanceanddissonance（ofwhich~StrangeMeeting~isthefinestexample）maybelefttotheprofessionalcriticsofverse，themajorityofwhomwillbemorepreoccupiedwithsuchtechnicaldetailsthanwiththeprofoundhumanityoftheself—revelationmanifestedinsuchmagnificentlinesasthoseattheendofhis~ApologiaproPoemateMeo~，andinthatotherpoemwhichhenamed~GreaterLove~。

TheimportanceofhiscontributiontotheliteratureoftheWarcannotbedecidedbythosewho，likemyself，bothadmiredhimasapoetandvaluedhimasafriend。HisconclusionsaboutWararesoentirelyinaccordancewithmyownthatIcannotattempttojudgehisworkwithanycriticaldetachment。Icanonlyaffirmthathewasamanofabsoluteintegrityofmind。Heneverwrotehispoems（assomanywar—poetsdid）tomaketheeffectofapersonalgesture。

Hepitiedothers；hedidnotpityhimself。Inthelastyearofhislifeheattainedaclearvisionofwhatheneededtosay，andthesepoemssurvivehimashistrueandsplendidtestament。

WilfredOwenwasbornatOswestryon18thMarch1893。HewaseducatedattheBirkenheadInstitute，andmatriculatedatLondonUniversityin1910。

In1913heobtainedaprivatetutorshipnearBordeaux，whereheremaineduntil1915。DuringthisperiodhebecameacquaintedwiththeeminentFrenchpoet，LaurentTailhade，towhomheshowedhisearlyverses，andfromwhomhereceivedconsiderableencouragement。

In1915，inspiteofdelicatehealth，hejoinedtheArtists’RiflesO。T。C。，wasgazettedtotheManchesterRegiment，andservedwiththeir2ndBattalioninFrancefromDecember1916toJune1917，whenhewasinvalidedhome。

FourteenmonthslaterhereturnedtotheWesternFrontandservedwiththesameBattalion，ultimatelycommandingaCompany。

HewasawardedtheMilitaryCrossforgallantrywhiletakingpartinsomeheavyfightingon1stOctober。Hewaskilledon4thNovember1918，whileendeavouringtogethismenacrosstheSambreCanal。

Amonthbeforehisdeathhewrotetohismother：\"Mynervesareinperfectorder。Icameoutagaininordertohelptheseboys；

directly，byleadingthemaswellasanofficercan；

indirectly，bywatchingtheirsufferingsthatImayspeakofthemaswellasapleadercan。\"Lethisownwordsbehisepitaph：——

~\"Couragewasmine，andIhadmystery；

Wisdomwasmine，andIhadmastery。\"~

SiegfriedSassoon。

POEMS

PrefaceThisbookisnotaboutheroes。EnglishPoetryisnotyetfittospeakofthem。Norisitaboutdeedsorlands，noranythingaboutglory，honour，dominionorpower，exceptWar。

Aboveall，thisbookisnotconcernedwithPoetry。

ThesubjectofitisWar，andthepityofWar。

ThePoetryisinthepity。

Yettheseelegiesarenottothisgeneration，Thisisinnosenseconsolatory。

Theymaybetothenext。

Allthepoetcandoto—dayistowarn。

ThatiswhythetruePoetsmustbetruthful。

IfIthoughttheletterofthisbookwouldlast，Imighthaveusedpropernames；butifthespiritofitsurvivesPrussia，——

myambitionandthosenameswillbecontent；fortheywillhaveachievedthemselvesfresherfieldsthanFlanders。

Note。——ThisPrefacewasfound，inanunfinishedcondition，amongWilfredOwen’spapers。

ContentsPrefaceStrangeMeetingGreaterLoveApologiaproPoemateMeoTheShowMentalCasesParableoftheOldMenandtheYoungArmsandtheBoyAnthemforDoomedYouthTheSend—offInsensibilityDulceetDecorumestTheSentryTheDead—BeatExposureSpringOffensiveTheChancesS。I。W。

FutilitySmile，Smile，SmileConsciousATerreWildwithallRegretsDisabledTheEnd

StrangeMeetingItseemedthatoutofthebattleIescapedDownsomeprofounddulltunnel，longsincescoopedThroughgraniteswhichTitanicwarshadgroined。

Yetalsothereencumberedsleepersgroaned，Toofastinthoughtordeathtobebestirred。

Then，asIprobedthem，onesprangup，andstaredWithpiteousrecognitioninfixedeyes，Liftingdistressfulhandsasiftobless。

Andbyhissmile，Iknewthatsullenhall；

Withathousandfearsthatvision’sfacewasgrained；

Yetnobloodreachedtherefromtheupperground，Andnogunsthumped，ordownthefluesmademoan。

\"Strange，friend，\"Isaid，\"Hereisnocausetomourn。\"

\"None，\"saidtheother，\"Savetheundoneyears，Thehopelessness。Whateverhopeisyours，Wasmylifealso；IwenthuntingwildAfterthewildestbeautyintheworld，Whichliesnotcalmineyes，orbraidedhair，Butmocksthesteadyrunningofthehour，Andifitgrieves，grievesrichlierthanhere。

Forbymygleemightmanymenhavelaughed，Andofmyweepingsomethinghasbeenleft，Whichmustdienow。Imeanthetruthuntold，Thepityofwar，thepitywardistilled。

Nowmenwillgocontentwithwhatwespoiled。

Or，discontent，boilbloody，andbespilled。

Theywillbeswiftwithswiftnessofthetigress，Nonewillbreakranks，thoughnationstrekfromprogress。

Couragewasmine，andIhadmystery；

Wisdomwasmine，andIhadmastery；

TomissthemarchofthisretreatingworldIntovaincitadelsthatarenotwalled。

Then，whenmuchbloodhadcloggedtheirchariot—wheelsIwouldgoupandwashthemfromsweetwells，Evenwithtruthsthatlietoodeepfortaint。

IwouldhavepouredmyspiritwithoutstintButnotthroughwounds；notonthecessofwar。

Foreheadsofmenhavebledwherenowoundswere。

Iamtheenemyyoukilled，myfriend。

Iknewyouinthisdark；forsoyoufrownedYesterdaythroughmeasyoujabbedandkilled。

Iparried；butmyhandswereloathandcold。

Letussleepnow……\"

（Thispoemwasfoundamongtheauthor’spapers。

Itendsonthisstrangenote。）

~AnotherVersion~

Earth’swheelsrunoiledwithblood。Forgetwethat。

Letusliedownanddigourselvesinthought。

Beautyisyoursandyouhavemastery，Wisdomismine，andIhavemystery。

Wetwowillstaybehindandkeepourtroth。

Letusforegomen’smindsthatarebrute’snatures，Letusnotsupthebloodwhichsomesaynurtures，Bewenotswiftwithswiftnessofthetigress。

Letusbreakranksfromthosewhotrekfromprogress。

MisswethemarchofthisretreatingworldIntooldcitadelsthatarenotwalled。

Letuslieoutandholdtheopentruth。

ThenwhentheirbloodhathcloggedthechariotwheelsWewillgoupandwashthemfromdeepwells。

WhatthoughwesinkfrommenaspitchersfallingManyshallraiseusuptobetheirfillingEvenfromwellswesunktoodeepforwarAndfilledbybrowsthatbledwherenowoundswere。

~Alternativeline——~

EvenasOnewhobledwherenowoundswere。

GreaterLoveRedlipsarenotsoredAsthestainedstoneskissedbytheEnglishdead。

KindnessofwooedandwooerSeemsshametotheirlovepure。

OLove，youreyesloselureWhenIbeholdeyesblindedinmystead！

YourslenderattitudeTremblesnotexquisitelikelimbsknife—skewed，RollingandrollingthereWhereGodseemsnottocare；

TillthefierceLovetheybearCrampsthemindeath’sextremedecrepitude。

Yourvoicesingsnotsosoft，——

Thoughevenaswindmurmuringthroughrafteredloft，——

Yourdearvoiceisnotdear，Gentle，andeveningclear，AstheirswhomnonenowhearNowearthhasstoppedtheirpiteousmouthsthatcoughed。

Heart，youwereneverhot，Norlarge，norfulllikeheartsmadegreatwithshot；

Andthoughyourhandbepale，PalerareallwhichtrailYourcrossthroughflameandhail：

Weep，youmayweep，foryoumaytouchthemnot。

ApologiaproPoemateMeoI，too，sawGodthroughmud——

Themudthatcrackedoncheekswhenwretchessmiled。

Warbroughtmoreglorytotheireyesthanblood，Andgavetheirlaughsmoregleethanshakesachild。

Merryitwastolaughthere——

Wheredeathbecomesabsurdandlifeabsurder。

ForpowerwasonusasweslashedbonesbareNottofeelsicknessorremorseofmurder。

I，too，havedroppedofffear——

Behindthebarrage，deadasmyplatoon，Andsailedmyspiritsurging，lightandclearPasttheentanglementwherehopeslaystrewn；

Andwitnessedexultation——

Facesthatusedtocurseme，scowlforscowl，Shineandliftupwithpassionofoblation，Seraphicforanhour；thoughtheywerefoul。

Ihavemadefellowships——

Untoldofhappyloversinoldsong。

ForloveisnotthebindingoffairlipsWiththesoftsilkofeyesthatlookandlong，ByJoy，whoseribbonslips，——

Butwoundwithwar’shardwirewhosestakesarestrong；

Boundwiththebandageofthearmthatdrips；

Knitintheweldingoftherifle—thong。

IhaveperceivedmuchbeautyInthehoarseoathsthatkeptourcouragestraight；

Heardmusicinthesilentnessofduty；

Foundpeacewhereshell—stormsspoutedreddestspate。

Nevertheless，exceptyoushareWiththeminhellthesorrowfuldarkofhell，Whoseworldisbutthetremblingofaflare，Andheavenbutasthehighwayforashell，Youshallnotheartheirmirth：

YoushallnotcometothinkthemwellcontentByanyjestofmine。ThesemenareworthYourtears：Youarenotworththeirmerriment。

~November~1917。

TheShowMysoullookeddownfromavagueheightwithDeath，AsunrememberinghowIroseorwhy，Andsawasadland，weakwithsweatsofdearth，Gray，crateredlikethemoonwithhollowwoe，Andfittedwithgreatpocksandscabsofplaques。

Acrossitsbeard，thathorrorofharshwire，Theremovedthincaterpillars，slowlyuncoiled。

ItseemedtheypushedthemselvestobeasplugsOfditches，wheretheywrithedandshrivelled，killed。

BythemhadslimypathsbeentrailedandscrapedRoundmyriadwartsthatmightbelittlehills。

Fromgloom’slastdregstheselong—strungcreaturescrept，Andvanishedoutofdawndownhiddenholes。

（AndsmellcameupfromthosefoulopeningsAsoutofmouths，ordeepwoundsdeepening。）

Onditheringfeetupgathered，moreandmore，Brownstringstowardsstringsofgray，withbristlingspines，Allmigrantsfromgreenfields，intentonmire。

Thosethatweregray，ofmoreabundantspawns，Rampedontherestandatethemandwereeaten。

Isawtheirbittenbackscurve，loop，andstraighten，Iwatchedthoseagoniescurl，lift，andflatten。

Whereat，interrorwhatthatsightmightmean，Ireeledandshiveredearthwardlikeafeather。

AndDeathfellwithme，likeadeepeningmoan。

AndHe，pickingamannerofworm，whichhalfhadhidItsbruisesintheearth，butcrawlednofurther，Showedmeitsfeet，thefeetofmanymen，Andthefresh—severedheadofit，myhead。

MentalCasesWhoarethese？Whysittheyhereintwilight？

Whereforerockthey，purgatorialshadows，Droopingtonguesfromjawsthatslobtheirrelish，Baringteeththatleerlikeskulls’tongueswicked？

Strokeonstrokeofpain，——butwhatslowpanic，Gougedthesechasmsroundtheirfrettedsockets？

EverfromtheirhairandthroughtheirhandpalmsMiseryswelters。SurelywehaveperishedSleeping，andwalkhell；butwhothesehellish？

——ThesearemenwhosemindstheDeadhaveravished。

Memoryfingersintheirhairofmurders，Multitudinousmurderstheyoncewitnessed。

Wadingsloughsoffleshthesehelplesswander，Treadingbloodfromlungsthathadlovedlaughter。

Alwaystheymustseethesethingsandhearthem，Batterofgunsandshatterofflyingmuscles，CarnageincomparableandhumansquanderRuckedtoothickforthesemen’sextrication。

ThereforestilltheireyeballsshrinktormentedBackintotheirbrains，becauseontheirsenseSunlightseemsabloodsmear；nightcomesblood—black；

Dawnbreaksopenlikeawoundthatbleedsafresh——Thustheirheadswearthishilarious，hideous，Awfulfalsenessofset—smilingcorpses。

——Thustheirhandsarepluckingateachother；

Pickingattherope—knoutsoftheirscourging；

Snatchingafteruswhosmotethem，brother，Pawinguswhodealtthemwarandmadness。

ParableoftheOldMenandtheYoungSoAbramrose，andclavethewood，andwent，Andtookthefirewithhim，andaknife。

Andastheysojournedbothofthemtogether，Isaacthefirst—bornspakeandsaid，MyFather，Beholdthepreparations，fireandiron，Butwherethelambforthisburnt—offering？

ThenAbramboundtheyouthwithbeltsandstraps，Andbuildedparapetsandtrenchesthere，Andstretch\\edforththeknifetoslayhisson。

Whenlo！anangelcalledhimoutofheaven，Saying，Laynotthyhanduponthelad，Neitherdoanythingtohim。Behold，Aramcaughtinathicketbyitshorns；

OffertheRamofPrideinsteadofhim。

Buttheoldmanwouldnotso，butslewhisson……

ArmsandtheBoyLettheboytryalongthisbayonet—bladeHowcoldsteelis，andkeenwithhungerofblood；

Bluewithallmalice，likeamadman’sflash；

Andthinlydrawnwithfamishingforflesh。

Lendhimtostroketheseblind，bluntbullet—headsWhichlongtomuzzleintheheartsoflads。

Orgivehimcartridgesoffinezincteeth，Sharpwiththesharpnessofgriefanddeath。

Forhisteethseemforlaughingroundanapple。

Therelurknoclawsbehindhisfingerssupple；

AndGodwillgrownotalonsathisheels，Norantlersthroughthethicknessofhiscurls。

AnthemforDoomedYouthWhatpassing—bellsforthesewhodieascattle？

Onlythemonstrousangeroftheguns。

Onlythestutteringrifles’rapidrattleCanpatterouttheirhastyorisons。

Nomockeriesforthem；noprayersnorbells，Noranyvoiceofmourningsavethechoirs，——

Theshrill，dementedchoirsofwailingshells；