War's Embers, and Other Verses

by Ivor Gurney

AT RESERVE DEPOT

When Spring comes here with early innocency
Of pale high blue, they’ll put Revally back.
The passers-by carelessly amused will see
Breakfastless boys killing the patient sack.

And there will be manœuvres where the violet shows,
Hiding its dark fervour, guarding its flame,
Where I shall lie and stare while the mystery grows
Huge and more huge, till the Sergeant calls my name.

TOASTS AND MEMORIES
(To the Men of the 2/5 Gloucester Regiment)

When once I sat in estaminets
With trusty friends of mine,
We drank to folk in England
And pledged them well in wine,

While thoughts of Gloucester filled us—
Roads against windy skies
At sunset, Severn river,
Red inn-blinds, country cries.

That stung the heart with sorrow
And barbéd sweet delight
At Riez Bailleul, Laventie,
At Merville, many a night.

Now I am over Channel
I cannot help but think
Of friends who stifle longing
With friendly food and drink.

“Where’s Gurney now, I wonder,
That smoked a pipe all day;
Sometimes that talked like blazes,
Sometimes had naught to say?”

And I, at home, must wonder
Where all my comrades are:
Those men whose Heart-of-Beauty
Was never stained by War.