On 01-July-2016, I missed the opportunity to mark the 100th anniversary of the first day of the Battle of the Somme. More British soldiers died on that day than on any other day in history. I thought to make up for it, I would write about some of the poets who died that day. There were a lot.
WN Hodgson published under the pen name Edward Melbourne. He wrote "Before Action" on 30-June-1916, one day before he died.
The image is from the movie The Battle of the Somme.
By all the glories of the day
And the cool evening's benison
By that last sunset touch that lay
Upon the hills when day was done,
By beauty lavishly outpoured
And blessings carelessly received,
By all the days that I have lived
Make me a soldier, Lord.
By all of all man's hopes and fears
And all the wonders poets sing,
The laughter of unclouded years,
And every sad and lovely thing;
By the romantic ages stored
With high endeavour that was his,
By all his mad catastrophes
Make me a man, O Lord.
I, that on my familiar hill
Saw with uncomprehending eyes
A hundred of thy sunsets spill
Their fresh and sanguine sacrifice,
Ere the sun swings his noonday sword
Must say good-bye to all of this;
By all delights that I shall miss,
Help me to die, O Lord.
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