I was near the King that day. I saw him snatch 
And briskly scan the G.H.Q. dispatch. 
Thick-voiced, he read it out. (His face was grave.) 
‘This officer advanced with the first wave, 

‘And when our first objective had been gained,
‘(Though wounded twice), reorganized the line: 
‘The spirit of the troops was by his fine 
‘Example most effectively sustained.’ 

He gripped his beard; then closed his eyes and said, 
‘Bathsheba must be warned that he is dead.
‘Send for her. I will be the first to tell 
‘This wife how her heroic husband fell.’ 

Added: May 19 2005 | Viewed: 513 times | Comments (0)

Poet: Siegfried Sassoon
Poem: Devotion to Duty

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