In The Trenches

Isaac Rosenberg

I snatched two poppies
From the parapets ledge,
Two bright red poppies
That winked on the ledge.
Behind my ear
I stuck one through,
One blood red poppy
I gave to you.

The sandbags narrowed
And screwed out our jest,
And tore the poppy
You had on your breast ...
Down - a shell - O! Christ,
I am choked ... safe ... dust blind, I
See trench floor poppies
Strewn. Smashed you lie. 

Next 10 Poems

• Isaac Rosenberg : Louse Hunting
• Isaac Rosenberg : On Receiving News Of The War
• Isaac Rosenberg : Returning, We Hear The Larks
• Isaac Rosenberg : The Immortals
• Isaac Rosenberg : The Jew
• Isaac Rosenberg : Through These Pale Cold Days
• Christina Georgina Rossetti : A Better Resurrection
• Christina Georgina Rossetti : A Better Resurrrection
• Christina Georgina Rossetti : A Birthday
• Christina Georgina Rossetti : A City Plum

Previous 10 Poems

• Isaac Rosenberg : God
• Isaac Rosenberg : Dead Man's Dump
• Isaac Rosenberg : Break Of Day In The Trenches
• Theodore Roethke : The Waking
• Theodore Roethke : The Survivor
• Theodore Roethke : The Storm
• Theodore Roethke : The Sloth
• Theodore Roethke : The Saginaw Song
• Theodore Roethke : The Return
• Theodore Roethke : The Reckoning