THE WAR POEMS OF SIEGFRIED SASSOON BY THE AUTHOR OF "THE OLD HUNTSMAN" AND "COUNTER ATTACK" LONDON: WILLIAM HEINEMANN 1920 Dans la trêve désolée de cette matinée, ces hommes qui avaient été tenaillés par la fatigue, fouettés par la pluie, bouleversés par toute une nuit de tonnerre, ces rescapés des volcans et de l'inondation entrevoyaient à quel point la guerre, aussi hideuse au moral qu'au physique, non seulement viole le bon sens, avilit les grandes idées, commande tous les crimes--mais ils se rappelaient combien elle avait développé en eux et autour d'eux tous les mauvais instincts sans en excepter un seul; la méchanceté jusqu'au sadisme, l'égoïsme jusqu'à la férocité, le besoin de jouir jusqu'à la folie. HENRI BARBUSSE. (_Le Feu_.) NOTE Of these 64 poems, 12 are now published for the first time. The remainder are selected from two previous volumes. CONTENTS I PRELUDE: THE TROOPS DREAMERS THE REDEEMER TRENCH DUTY WIRERS BREAK OF DAY A WORKING PARTY STAND-TO: GOOD FRIDAY MORNING "IN THE PINK" THE HERO BEFORE THE BATTLE THE ROAD TWO HUNDRED YEARS AFTER THE DREAM AT CARNOY BATTALION RELIEF THE DUG-OUT THE REAR-GUARD I STOOD WITH THE DEAD SUICIDE IN TRENCHES ATTACK COUNTER-ATTACK THE EFFECT REMORSE IN AN UNDERGROUND DRESSING-STATION DIED OF WOUNDS II "THEY" BASE DETAILS LAMENTATIONS THE GENERAL HOW TO DIE EDITORIAL IMPRESSIONS FIGHT TO A FINISH ATROCITIES THE FATHERS "BLIGHTERS" GLORY OF WOMEN THEIR FRAILTY DOES IT MATTER? SURVIVORS JOY-BELLS ARMS AND THE MAN WHEN I'M AMONG A BLAZE OF LIGHTS THE KISS THE TOMBSTONE-MAKER THE ONE-LEGGED MAN RETURN OF THE HEROES III TWELVE MONTHS AFTER TO ANY DEAD OFFICER SICK LEAVE BANISHMENT AUTUMN REPRESSION OF WAR EXPERIENCE TOGETHER THE HAWTHORN TREE CONCERT PARTY NIGHT ON THE CONVOY A LETTER HOME RECONCILIATION MEMORIAL TABLET (GREAT WAR) THE DEATH-BED AFTERMATH SONG-BOOKS OF THE WAR EVERYONE SANG PRELUDE: THE TROOPS Dim, gradual thinning of the shapeless gloom Shudders to drizzling daybreak that reveals Disconsolate men who stamp their sodden boots And turn dulled, sunken faces to the sky Haggard and hopeless. They, who have beaten down The stale despair of night, must now renew Their desolation in the truce of dawn, Murdering the livid hours that grope for peace.