His face was charged with beauty as a cloud

War brought more glory to their eyes than blood,And gave their laughs more glee than shakes a child.Merry it was to laugh there–Where death becomes absurd and life absurder.For power was on us as we slashed bones bareNot to feel sickness or remorse of murder.I, too, have dropped off fear–Behind the barrage, dead as my…

The crunch of boots on blue snow rosy-glistening,Shuffle of autumn leaves; and all farewells:Bugles that sadden all the evening air,And country bells clamouring their last appealsBefore [the] music of the evening prayer;Bridges, sonorous under carriage wheels.Gurgle of sluicing surge through hollow rocks,The gluttonous lapping of the waves on weeds,Whisper of grass; the myriad-tinkling flocks,The warbling…

And (large) Vast Booty from our Latest Haul.Also, they read of Cheap Homes, not yet planned;For, said the paper, ‘When this war is doneThe men’s first instinct will be making homes.Meanwhile their foremost need is aerodromes,It being certain war has just begun.Peace would do wrong to our undying dead, —The sons we offered might regret…

Hammered on top, but never quite burst through.Rain, guttering down in waterfalls of slimeKept slush waist high, that rising hour by hour,Choked up the steps too thick with clay to climb.What murk of air remained stank old, and sourWith fumes of whizz-bangs, and the smell of menWho’d lived there years, and left their curse in…

Could not prevail, nor get at any vantage…So those huge hands that, small, had snapped great snakes,Let slip the writhing of Antaeus’ wrists:Those hero’s hands that wrenched the necks of bulls,Now fumbled round the slim Antaeus’ limbs,Baffled. Then anger swelled in Heracles,And terribly he grappled broader arms,And yet more firmly fixed his grasped feet.And up…

Watched the magnificent recession of farewell,Clouding, half gleam, half glower,And a last splendour burn the heavens of his cheek.And in his eyesThe cold stars lighting, very old and bleak,In different skies.