Andbuglescallingforthemfromsadshires。

Whatcandlesmaybeheldtospeedthemall？

Notinthehandsofboys，butintheireyesShallshinetheholyglimmersofgoodbyes。

Thepallorofgirls’browsshallbetheirpall；

Theirflowersthetendernessofpatientminds，Andeachslowduskadrawing—downofblinds。

TheSend—offDowntheclose，darkeninglanestheysangtheirwayTothesiding—shed，Andlinedthetrainwithfacesgrimlygay。

TheirbreastswerestuckallwhitewithwreathandsprayAsmen’sare，dead。

Dullporterswatchedthem，andacasualtrampStoodstaringhard，Sorrytomissthemfromtheuplandcamp。

Then，unmoved，signalsnodded，andalampWinkedtotheguard。

Sosecretly，likewrongshushed—up，theywent。

Theywerenotours：

Weneverheardtowhichfronttheseweresent。

NorthereiftheyyetmockwhatwomenmeantWhogavethemflowers。

ShalltheyreturntobeatingsofgreatbellsInwildtrainloads？

Afew，afew，toofewfordrumsandyells，Maycreepback，silent，tostillvillagewellsUphalf—knownroads。

InsensibilityI

HappyaremenwhoyetbeforetheyarekilledCanlettheirveinsruncold。

WhomnocompassionfleersOrmakestheirfeetSoreonthealleyscobbledwiththeirbrothers。

Thefrontlinewithers，Buttheyaretroopswhofade，notflowersForpoets’tearfulfooling：

Men，gapsforfillingLosseswhomighthavefoughtLonger；butnoonebothers。

II

AndsomeceasefeelingEventhemselvesorforthemselves。

DullnessbestsolvesTheteaseanddoubtofshelling，AndChance’sstrangearithmeticComessimplerthanthereckoningoftheirshilling。

TheykeepnocheckonArmies’decimation。

III

Happyarethesewholoseimagination：

Theyhaveenoughtocarrywithammunition。

Theirspiritdragsnopack。

Theiroldwoundssavewithcoldcannotmoreache。

Havingseenallthingsred，TheireyesareridOfthehurtofthecolourofbloodforever。

Andterror’sfirstconstrictionover，Theirheartsremainsmalldrawn。

TheirsensesinsomescorchingcauteryofbattleNowlongsinceironed，Canlaughamongthedying，unconcerned。

IV

Happythesoldierhome，withnotanotionHowsomewhere，everydawn，somemenattack，Andmanysighsaredrained。

Happytheladwhosemindwasnevertrained：

Hisdaysareworthforgettingmorethannot。

HesingsalongthemarchWhichwemarchtaciturn，becauseofdusk，Thelong，forlorn，relentlesstrendFromlargerdaytohugernight。

V

Wewise，whowithathoughtbesmirchBloodoveralloursoul，HowshouldweseeourtaskButthroughhisbluntandlashlesseyes？

Alive，heisnotvitalovermuch；

Dying，notmortalovermuch；

Norsad，norproud，Norcuriousatall。

HecannottellOldmen’splacidityfromhis。

VI

Butcursedaredullardswhomnocannonstuns，Thattheyshouldbeasstones。

Wretchedarethey，andmeanWithpaucitythatneverwassimplicity。

BychoicetheymadethemselvesimmuneTopityandwhatevermournsinmanBeforethelastseaandthehaplessstars；

Whatevermournswhenmanyleavetheseshores；

WhateversharesTheeternalreciprocityoftears。

DulceetDecorumestBentdouble，likeoldbeggarsundersacks，Knock—kneed，coughinglikehags，wecursedthroughsludge，Tillonthehauntingflaresweturnedourbacks，Andtowardsourdistantrestbegantotrudge。

Menmarchedasleep。Manyhadlosttheirboots，Butlimpedon，blood—shod。Allwentlame，allblind；

Drunkwithfatigue；deafeventothehootsOfgas—shellsdroppingsoftlybehind。

Gas！GAS！Quick，boys！——AnecstasyoffumblingFittingtheclumsyhelmetsjustintime，ButsomeonestillwasyellingoutandstumblingAndflound’ringlikeamaninfireorlime。——

Dimthroughthemistypanesandthickgreenlight，Asunderagreensea，Isawhimdrowning。

InallmydreamsbeforemyhelplesssightHeplungesatme，guttering，choking，drowning。

Ifinsomesmotheringdreams，youtoocouldpaceBehindthewagonthatweflunghimin，Andwatchthewhiteeyeswrithinginhisface，Hishangingface，likeadevil’ssickofsin，Ifyoucouldhear，ateveryjolt，thebloodComegarglingfromthefroth—corruptedlungsBitterasthecudOfvile，incurablesoresoninnocenttongues，——

Myfriend，youwouldnottellwithsuchhighzestTochildrenardentforsomedesperateglory，TheoldLie：~DulceetdecorumestPropatriamori~。

TheSentryWe’dfoundanoldBochedug—out，andheknew，Andgaveushell，forshellonfranticshellHammeredontop，butneverquiteburstthrough。

Rain，gutteringdowninwaterfallsofslimeKeptslushwaisthigh，thatrisinghourbyhour，Chokedupthestepstoothickwithclaytoclimb。

Whatmurkofairremainedstankold，andsourWithfumesofwhizz—bangs，andthesmellofmenWho’dlivedthereyears，andlefttheircurseintheden，Ifnottheircorpses……

ThereweherdedfromtheblastOfwhizz—bangs，butonefoundourdooratlast。

Buffetingeyesandbreath，snuffingthecandles。

Andthud！flump！thud！downthesteepstepscamethumpingAndsplashingintheflood，delugingmuck——

Thesentry’sbody；thenhisrifle，handlesOfoldBochebombs，andmudinruckonruck。

Wedredgedhimup，forkilled，untilhewhined\"Osir，myeyes——I’mblind——I’mblind，I’mblind！\"

Coaxing，IheldaflameagainsthislidsAndsaidifhecouldseetheleastblurredlightHewasnotblind；intimehe’dgetallright。

\"Ican’t，\"hesobbed。Eyeballs，huge—bulgedlikesquidsWatchmydreamsstill；butIforgothimthereInpostingnextforduty，andsendingascoutTobegastretchersomewhere，andflounderingaboutTootherpostsundertheshriekingair。

Thoseotherwretches，howtheybledandspewed，Andonewhowouldhavedrownedhimselfforgood，——

Itrynottorememberthesethingsnow。

Letdreadharkbackforonewordonly：howHalf—listeningtothatsentry’smoansandjumps，Andthewildchatteringofhisbrokenteeth，RenewedmosthorriblywhenevercrumpsPummelledtheroofandsloggedtheairbeneath——

Throughthedensedin，Isay，weheardhimshout\"Iseeyourlights！\"Butourshadlongdiedout。

TheDead—BeatHedropped，——moresullenlythanwearily，Laystupidlikeacod，heavylikemeat，Andnoneofuscouldkickhimtohisfeet；

Justblinkedatmyrevolver，blearily；

——Didn’tappeartoknowawarwason，Orseetheblastedtrenchatwhichhestared。

\"I’lldo’emin，\"hewhined，\"Ifthishand’sspared，I’llmurderthem，Iwill。\"

Alowvoicesaid，\"It’sBlighty，p’raps，hesees；hispluck’sallgone，Dreamingofallthevaliant，that~aren’t~dead：

Bolduncles，smilingministerially；

Maybehisbraveyoungwife，gettingherfunInsomenewhome，improvedmaterially。

It’snotthesestiffshavecrazedhim；northeHun。\"

Wesenthimdownatlast，outoftheway。

Unwounded；——stoutlad，too，beforethatstrafe。

Malingering？Stretcher—bearerswinked，\"Nothalf！\"

NextdayIheardtheDoc。’swell—whiskiedlaugh：

\"Thatscumyousentlastnightsoondied。Hooray！\"

ExposureI

Ourbrainsache，inthemercilessicedeastwindsthatknifeus……

Weariedwekeepawakebecausethenightissilent……

Lowdroopingflaresconfuseourmemoryofthesalient……

Worriedbysilence，sentrieswhisper，curious，nervous，Butnothinghappens。

Watching，wehearthemadguststuggingonthewire。

Liketwitchingagoniesofmenamongitsbrambles。

Northwardincessantly，theflickeringgunneryrumbles，Faroff，likeadullrumourofsomeotherwar。

Whatarewedoinghere？

Thepoignantmiseryofdawnbeginstogrow……

Weonlyknowwarlasts，rainsoaks，andcloudssagstormy。

DawnmassingintheeasthermelancholyarmyAttacksoncemoreinranksonshiveringranksofgray，Butnothinghappens。

Suddensuccessiveflightsofbulletsstreakthesilence。

Lessdeadlythantheairthatshuddersblackwithsnow，Withsidelongflowingflakesthatflock，pauseandrenew，Wewatchthemwanderingupanddownthewind’snonchalance，Butnothinghappens。

II

Paleflakeswithlingeringstealthcomefeelingforourfaces——

Wecringeinholes，backonforgottendreams，andstare，snow—dazed，Deepintograssierditches。Sowedrowse，sun—dozed，Litteredwithblossomstricklingwheretheblackbirdfusses。

Isitthatwearedying？

Slowlyourghostsdraghome：glimpsingthesunkfiresglozedWithcrusteddark—redjewels；cricketsjinglethere；

Forhourstheinnocentmicerejoice：thehouseistheirs；

Shuttersanddoorsallclosed：onusthedoorsareclosed——

Weturnbacktoourdying。

Sincewebelievenototherwisecankindfiresburn；

Noweversunssmiletrueonchild，orfield，orfruit。

ForGod’sinvinciblespringourloveismadeafraid；

Therefore，notloath，welieouthere；thereforewereborn，ForloveofGodseemsdying。

To—night，Hisfrostwillfastenonthismudandus，Shrivellingmanyhandsandpuckeringforeheadscrisp。

Theburying—party，picksandshovelsintheirshakinggrasp，Pauseoverhalf—knownfaces。Alltheireyesareice，Butnothinghappens。

SpringOffensiveHaltedagainsttheshadeofalasthill，Theyfed，and，lyingeasy，wereateaseAnd，findingcomfortablechestsandkneesCarelesslyslept。ButmanytherestoodstillTofacethestark，blankskybeyondtheridge，Knowingtheirfeethadcometotheendoftheworld。

Marvellingtheystood，andwatchedthelonggrassswirledBytheMaybreeze，murmurouswithwaspandmidge，ForthoughthesummeroozedintotheirveinsLiketheinjecteddrugfortheirbones’pains，Sharpontheirsoulshungtheimminentlineofgrass，Fearfullyflashedthesky’smysteriousglass。

Hourafterhourtheyponderthewarmfield——

Andthefarvalleybehind，wherethebuttercupsHadblessedwithgoldtheirslowbootscomingup，Whereeventhelittlebrambleswouldnotyield，Butclutchedandclungtothemlikesorrowinghands；

Theybreatheliketreesunstirred。

TilllikeacoldgustthrilledthelittlewordAtwhicheachbodyanditssoulbegirdAndtightenthemforbattle。NoalarmsOfbugles，nohighflags，noclamoroushaste——

OnlyaliftandflareofeyesthatfacedThesun，likeafriendwithwhomtheirloveisdone。

Olargershonethatsmileagainstthesun，——

Mightierthanhiswhosebountythesehavespurned。

So，soontheytoppedthehill，andracedtogetherOveranopenstretchofherbandheatherExposed。AndinstantlythewholeskyburnedWithfuryagainstthem；andsoftsuddencupsOpenedinthousandsfortheirblood；andthegreenslopesChasmedandsteepenedsheertoinfinitespace。

OfthemwhorunningonthatlasthighplaceLeapttoswiftunseenbullets，orwentupOnthehotblastandfuryofhell’supsurge，Orplungedandfellawaypastthisworld’sverge，SomesayGodcaughtthemevenbeforetheyfell。

Butwhatsaysuchasfromexistence’brinkVenturedbutdravetooswifttosink。

Thefewwhorushedinthebodytoenterhell，Andthereout—fiendingallitsfiendsandflamesWithsuperhumaninhumanities，Long—famousglories，immemorialshames——

Andcrawlingslowlyback，havebydegreesRegainedcoolpeacefulairinwonder——

Whyspeaktheynotofcomradesthatwentunder？

TheChancesImindas’owthenightaforethatshowUsfivegottalking，——wewasintheknow，\"Overthetopto—morrer；boys，we’reforit，Firstwaveweare，firstruddywave；that’storeit。\"

\"Ahwell，\"saysJimmy，——an’’e’sseensomescrappin’——

\"Thereain’tmorenorfivethingsascan’appen；

Yegetknockedout；elsewounded——badorcushy；

Scuppered；ornowtexceptyerfeelingmushy。\"

Oneofusgottheknock—out，blowntochops。

T’otherwashurt，like，losin’both’isprops。

An’one，tousethewordof’ypocrites，’AdthemisfortoontobetookbyFritz。

Nowme，Iwasn’tscratched，praiseGodAlmighty（ThoughnexttimepleaseI’llthank’imforablighty），ButpooryoungJim，’e’slivin’an’’e’snot；

’Ereckoned’e’dfivechances，an’’e’s’ad；

’E’swounded，killed，andpris’ner，allthelot——

Theruddylotallrolledinone。Jim’smad。

S。I。W。

\"IwilltotheKing，Andofferhimconsolationinhistrouble，Forthatmantherehassethisteethtodie，Andbeingonethathatesobedience，Discipline，andorderlinessoflife，Icannotmournhim。\"

W。B。Yeats。

Pattinggoodbye，doubtlesstheytoldtheladHe’dalwaysshowtheHunabraveman’sface；