Prose from the Pros #10: S is for Sassoon

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Dreamers
Seigfried Sassoon

SOLDIERS are citizens of death's gray land, 

Drawing no dividend from time's to-morrows. 

In the great hour of destiny they stand,

Each with his feuds, and jealousies, and sorrows. 

Soldiers are sworn to action; they must win

Some flaming, fatal climax with their lives. 

Soldiers are dreamers; when the guns begin 

They think of firelit homes, clean beds, and wives.



I see them in foul dug-outs, gnawed by rats, 

And in the ruined trenches, lashed with rain, 

Dreaming of things they did with balls and bats, 

And mocked by hopeless longing to regain 

Bank-holidays, and picture shows, and spats, 

And going to the office in the train. 



Comments

Misha Gerrick said…
Beautiful. It puts my life into a rather harsh perspective. Thanks so much for putting this post up. :-)
April 23, 2011 at 3:31 PM
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