C J Dennis - War's End Armistice Day 1935

War's End Armistice Day 1935

Greyer and older, still they stand

  Wearier, quieter, still they pray;

Men who had offered their all to a land.

  And their thoughts run back to an olden day

When Youth sailed gallantly, gaily forth --

  Romance for King, and faith to the fore --

To the older, bitterer lands of the north,

  To battle, that men might end all war.

Ageing Diggers, grown wiser now,

  Again they are dreaming before their shrine

Of the long-gone day when they made the vow

  With hearts uplifted, and eyes a-shine.

And thro' their dreaming there drifts to-day

  A newer note and a sad refrain,

As their thoughts return to that bitter fray:

  "Was it all in vain?  Was it all in vain?"

Soberer, sterner, still they hear

  Endless thunder of vengeful guns

Echoing out of a long dead year.

  And, "God," they pray, "must these our sons

Learn over again all we'd fain forget?

  Buy over again their need of peace

Live over again worse madness yet?

  Is earth's grim agony never to cease?"

Ageing Diggers before their shrine:

  "Is there never a respite, no release?

We who have suffered look for a sign.

  Is there never a hope for a lasting peace?

We who have known it all before:

  The madness, agony, needless pain --

We who once battled to end all war --

  Was it all in vain?  Was it all in vain?"

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This poem is a poem of faith, and difficult lifestyles...in my eyes a lot and nothing goes on in this poem making it entrancing and fun to read. Check out more poetry from C J Dennis at www.allpoetry.com