Derision from the dead
Mocks armamental madness.
Redeem (each Ruler said)
Mankind. Men died to do it.
And some with glorying gladness
Bore arms for earth and bled:
But most went glumly through it
Dumbly doomed to rue it.
The darkness of their dying
Grows one with War recorded;
Whose swindled ghosts are crying
From shell-holes in the past,
Our deeds with lies were lauded,
Our bones with wrongs rewarded.
Dream voices these—denying
Dud laurels to the last.
Mocks armamental madness.
Redeem (each Ruler said)
Mankind. Men died to do it.
And some with glorying gladness
Bore arms for earth and bled:
But most went glumly through it
Dumbly doomed to rue it.
The darkness of their dying
Grows one with War recorded;
Whose swindled ghosts are crying
From shell-holes in the past,
Our deeds with lies were lauded,
Our bones with wrongs rewarded.
Dream voices these—denying
Dud laurels to the last.
inviata da Bartleby - 22/11/2011 - 11:07
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Poesia pubblicata sul settimanale The Spectator nel novembre del 1934 e poi inclusa nella raccolta intitolata “Vigils” del 1935.
Musica del compositore americano Leland C. Smith (1925-vivente?) da “Three Pacifist Songs” del 1951.
Testo trovato su The Lied, Art Song and Choral Texts Archive.
La poesia come compare su di un versione manoscritta ed artistica di “Vigils” datata 1934