A Corner of a Foreign Field

[John Sukey]

A SON
My son was killed while laughing at some jest. I would I knew
What it was and it might serve me in a time when jests are few
Rudyard Kipling

THE GENERAL
"Good morning, good morning" the general said
When we met him last week on our way to the line
Now the soldiers he smiled at are most of'em dead
And we're cursing his staff for incompetent swine
"He's a cheery old card" grunted Harry to Jack
As they slogged up to Arras with rifle and pack
But he did for them both, by his plan of attack
Sigfried Sassoon

THEY
The Bishop tells us; "Wnen the boys come back
They will not be the same; for they'll have fought
In a just cause:they lead the last attack
On Anti-Christ: their comrades blood has bought
New right to breed an honourable race
They have challanged Death and dared him face to face

"We're none of us the same"the boys reply.
For George lost both his legs, and Bill's stone blind
Poor jim's shot through the lungs and like to die
And Ben's gone syphlitic. You'll not find
A chap who's served that hasn't found some change
And the Bishop said "The ways of God are strange"
Sigfried Sassoon