The War Poets

In English classes at High School, we studied the group known as the war poets.  Most served during the First World War and many lost their lives.  Some of the poems are harrowing but others offer a glimmer of hope.

Laurence Binyon's poem, For the Fallen, has become one of the most quoted poems in the English language.

With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,
England mourns for her dead across the sea.
Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,
Fallen in the cause of the free.

Solemn the drums thrill; Death august and royal 
Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres,
There is music in the midst of desolation
And a glory that shines upon our tears.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted;
They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: 
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

I remember we were asked by the English teacher to look at how the poet had carefully worded the first few words of the first line of verse 4.  'They shall grow not old..' rather than the more common ' they shall not grow old', and how the word 'will' in the final line is emphasised.

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