Squat walls of sandbags ~~ and above, a sky
all thin and cool with dawn and very far.
Black empty stretchers. On the parapet,
light out before the clangor of the gun.
The bliss of strong fatigue ~~ and where I lie
the canvas breathes between me and that star
a bitter steam of blood. The air feels wet,
and the stars go, forgotten one by one.
Time to start back ~~ and watch those towns go by!
“You ready to go? ~~ we got a lift in a car.”
“Already?~~”
“Yeh, let’s start, we got a long way
to go.”
O God the ruins of Sailly-Laurette!
~~like dying men that wake and find the sun
and shut their eyes against another day.
(John Allan Wyeth)
More Poetry from John Allan Wyeth:
John Allan Wyeth Poems based on Topics: Light, Cars, Happiness, Time- Entente Cordiale (John Allan Wyeth Poems)
- In a Dug-out (John Allan Wyeth Poems)
- Regimental Maps from Headquarters (John Allan Wyeth Poems)
- Regimental Headquarters (John Allan Wyeth Poems)
- Second Battalion Headquarters (John Allan Wyeth Poems)
- Through the Valley (John Allan Wyeth Poems)
Readers Who Like This Poem Also Like:
Based on Topics: Light Poems, Time Poems, Happiness Poems, Cars PoemsBased on Keywords: clangor, stretchers, sandbags