按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
25
… Page 26…
Poems by Wilfred Owen
Futility
Move him into the sun Gently its touch awoke him once； At home；
whispering of fields unsown。 Always it woke him； even in France； Until
this morning and this snow。 If anything might rouse him now The kind old
sun will know。
Think how it wakes the seeds Woke； once； the clays of a cold star。
Are limbs so dear…achieved； are sides Full…nerved； still warm； too hard
to stir？ Was it for this the clay grew tall？ O what made fatuous
sunbeams toil To break earth's sleep at all？
26
… Page 27…
Poems by Wilfred Owen
Smile； Smile； Smile
Head to limp head； the sunk…eyed wounded scanned Yesterday's Mail；
the casualties （typed small） 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 done The 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 they died If we got nothing lasting in their stead。 We must be
solidly indemnified。 Though all be worthy Victory which all bought； We
rulers sitting in this ancient spot Would wrong our very selves if we forgot
The greatest glory will be theirs who fought； Who kept this nation in
integrity。〃 Nation？ The half…limbed readers did not chafe But smiled at
one another curiously Like secret men who know their secret safe。 This is
the thing they know and never speak； That England one by one had fled to
France （Not many elsewhere now save under France）。 Pictures of these
broad smiles appear each week； And people in whose voice real feeling
rings Say： How they smile！ They're happy now； poor things。
23rd September 1918。
27
… Page 28…
Poems by Wilfred Owen
Conscious
His fingers wake； and flutter up the bed。 His eyes come open with a
pull of will； Helped by the yellow may…flowers by his head。 A blind…cord
drawls across the window…sill 。 。 。 How smooth the floor of the ward is！
what a rug！ And who's that talking； somewhere out of sight？ Why are they
laughing？ What's inside that jug？ 〃Nurse！ Doctor！〃 〃Yes； all right； all
right。〃
But sudden dusk bewilders all the air There seems no time to want a
drink of water。 Nurse looks so far away。 And everywhere Music and roses
burnt through crimson slaughter。 Cold； cold； he's cold； and yet so hot： And
there's no light to see the voices by No time to dream； and ask he
knows not what。
28
… Page 29…
Poems by Wilfred Owen
A Terre
（Being the philosophy of many Soldiers。）
Sit on the bed； I'm blind； and three parts shell； Be careful； can't shake
hands now； never shall。 Both arms have mutinied against me brutes。 My
fingers fidget like ten idle brats。
I tried to peg out soldierly no use！ One dies of war like any old
disease。 This bandage feels like pennies on my eyes。 I have my medals？
Discs to make eyes close。 My glorious ribbons？ Ripped from my own
back In scarlet shreds。 （That's for your poetry book。）
A short life and a merry one； my brick！ We used to say we'd hate to
live dead old； Yet now 。 。 。 I'd willingly be puffy； bald； And patriotic。
Buffers catch from boys At least the jokes hurled at them。 I suppose Little
I'd ever teach a son； but hitting； Shooting； war； hunting； all the arts of
hurting。 Well； that's what I learnt； that； and making money。 Your fifty
years ahead seem none too many？ Tell me how long I've got？ God！ For
one year To help myself to nothing more than air！ One Spring！ Is one too
good to spare； too long？ Spring wind would work its own way to my lung；
And grow me legs as quick as lilac…shoots。 My servant's lamed； but listen
how he shouts！ When I'm lugged out； he'll still be good for that。 Here in
this mummy…case； you know； I've thought How well I might have swept
his floors for ever； I'd ask no night off when the bustle's over； Enjoying so
the dirt。 Who's prejudiced Against a grimed hand when his own's quite
dust； Less live than specks that in the sun…shafts turn； Less warm than dust
that mixes with arms' tan？ I'd love to be a sweep； now； black as Town； Yes；
or a muckman。 Must I be his load？
O Life； Life； let me breathe； a dug…out rat！ Not worse than ours the
existences rats lead Nosing along at night down some safe vat； They
find a shell…proof home before they rot。 Dead men may envy living mites
in cheese； Or good germs even。 Microbes have their joys； And subdivide；
and never come to death； Certainly flowers have the easiest time on earth。
〃I shall be one with nature； herb； and stone。〃 Shelley would tell me。
Shelley would be stunned； The dullest Tommy hugs that fancy now。
29
… Page 30…
Poems by Wilfred Owen
〃Pushing up daisies；〃 is their creed； you know。 To grain； then； go my fat； to
buds my sap； For all the usefulness there is in soap。 D'you think the Boche
will ever stew man…soup？ Some day； no doubt； if 。 。 。 Friend； be very sure I
shall be better off with plants that share More peaceably the meadow and
the shower。 Soft rains will touch me； as they could touch once； And
nothing but the sun shall make me ware。 Your guns may crash around me。
I'll not hear； Or； if I wince； I shall not know I wince。 Don't take my soul's
poor comfort for your jest。 Soldiers may grow a soul when turned to
fronds； But here the thing's best left at home with friends。
My soul's a little grief； grappling your chest； To climb your throat on
sobs； easily chased On other sighs and wiped by fresher winds。
Carry my crying spirit till it's weaned To do without what blood
remained these wounds。
30
… Page 31…
Poems by Wilfred Owen
Wild with all Regrets
（Another version of 〃A Terre〃。）
To Siegfried Sassoon
My arms have mutinied against me brutes！ My fingers fidget like
ten idle brats； My back's been stiff for hours； damned hours。 Death never
gives his squad a Stand…at…ease。 I can't read。 There： it's no use。 Take your
book。 A short life and a merry one； my buck！ We said we'd hate to grow
dead old。 But now； Not to live old seems awful： not to renew My boyhood
with my boys； and teach 'em hitting； Shooting and hunting； all the arts
of hurting！ Well； that's what I learnt。 That； and making money。 Your fifty
years in store seem none too many； But I've five minutes。 God！ For just
two years To help myself to this good air of yours！ One Spring！ Is one too
hard to spare？ Too long？ Spring air would find its own way to my lung；
And grow me legs as quick as lilac…shoots。 Yes； there's the orderly。 He'll
change the sheets When I'm lugged out； oh； couldn't I do that？ Here in this
coffin of a bed； I've thought I'd like to kneel and sweep his floors for ever；
And ask no nights off when the bustle's over； For I'd enjoy the dirt；
who's prejudiced Against a grimed hand when his own's quite dust； Less
live than specks that in the sun…shafts turn？ Dear dust； in rooms； on
roads； on faces' tan！ I'd love to be a sweep's boy； black as Town； Yes； or a
muckman。 Must I be his load？ A flea would do。 If one chap wasn't bloody；
Or went stone…cold； I'd find another body。
Which I shan't manage now。 Unless it's yours。 I shall stay in you；
friend； for some few hours。 You'll feel my heavy spirit chill your chest；
And climb your throat on sobs； until it's chased On sighs； and wiped from
off your lips by wind。
I think on your rich breathing； brother； I'll be weaned To do without
what blood remained me from my wound。
5th December 1917。
31
… Page 32…