Sunday WW1 Poet...

The theme for this month's WW1 poetry 

is

Rupert Brooke

1887 - 1915

(iv) The Dead

These hearts were woven of human joys and cares,

   Washed marvellously with sorrow, swift to mirth.

The years had given them kindness. Dawn was theirs,

   And sunset, and the colours of the earth.

These had seen movement, and heard music; known

   Slumber and waking; loved; gone proudly friended;

Felt the quick stir of wonder; sat alone;

   Touched flowers and furs and cheeks. All this is ended.

There are waters blown by changing winds to laughter

And lit by the rich skies, all day. And after,

   Frost, with a gesture, stays the waves that dance

And wandering loveliness. He leaves a white

Unbroken glory, a gathered radiance,

   A width, a shining peace, under the night.

Rupert Brooke wrote this series of poems entitled The Sonnets in the autumn of 1914 following the outbreak of the First World War.

He died from an infected mosquito bite in April 1915 on a French hospital ship on his way to Gallipoli and is buried in an olive grove on Skyros in Greece.



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