Bedenkingen, mijmeringen, oprispingen.

maandag 18 maart 2019

WILFRIED OWEN 18 MAART 1893 - 4 NOVEMBER 1918


The Last Laugh



‘O Jesus Christ! I’m hit,’ he said; and died.
Whether he vainly cursed or prayed indeed,
                 The Bullets chirped—In vain, vain, vain!
                 Machine-guns chuckled—Tut-tut! Tut-tut!
                 And the Big Gun guffawed.

Another sighed,—‘O Mother,—mother,—Dad!’
Then smiled at nothing, childlike, being dead.
                 And the lofty Shrapnel-cloud
                 Leisurely gestured,—Fool!            
                 And the splinters spat, and tittered.

‘My Love!’ one moaned. Love-languid seemed his mood,
Till slowly lowered, his whole face kissed the mud.
                 And the Bayonets’ long teeth grinned;
                 Rabbles of Shells hooted and groaned;
                 And the Gas hissed.

Geen opmerkingen:

Een reactie posten