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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE ARMY OF THE DEAD, by BARRY PAIN Poet's Biography First Line: I dreamed that overhead Last Line: Salute! Subject(s): Death; World War I; Dead, The; First World War | |||
I DREAMED that overhead I saw in twilight grey The Army of the Dead Marching upon its way, So still and passionless, With faces so serene, That scarcely could one guess Such men in war had been. No mark of hurt they bore, Nor smoke, nor bloody stain; Nor suffered any more Famine, fatigue, or pain; Nor any lust of hate Now lingered in their eyes— Who have fulfilled their fate, Have lost all enmities. A new and greater pride So quenched the pride of race That foes marched side by side Who once fought face to face. That ghostly army's plan Knows but one race, one rod— All nations there are Man, And the one King is God. No longer on their ears The bugle's summons falls; Beyond these angled spheres The Archangel's trumpet calls; And by that trumpet led Far up the exalted sky The Army of the Dead Goes by, and still goes by— Look upward, standing mute; Salute! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...D'ANNUNZIO by ERNEST HEMINGWAY 1915: THE TRENCHES by CONRAD AIKEN TO OUR PRESIDENT by KATHARINE LEE BATES THE HORSES by KATHARINE LEE BATES CHILDREN OF THE WAR by KATHARINE LEE BATES THE U-BOAT CREWS by KATHARINE LEE BATES THE RED CROSS NURSE by KATHARINE LEE BATES WAR PROFITS by KATHARINE LEE BATES THE UNCHANGEABLE by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN |
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