Sunday War Poet...

The theme for this months poetry

 is

The Soldier









The Broken Soldier

by

Katharine Tynan

The broken soldier sings and whistles day to dark;

    He's but the remnant of a man, maimed and half-blind,

But the soul they could not harm goes singing like the lark,

    Like the incarnate Joy that will not be confined.

The Lady at the Hall has given him a light task,

    He works in the gardens as busy as a bee;

One hand is but a stump and his face a pitted mask;

    The gay soul goes singing like a bird set free.

Whistling and singing like a linnet on wings;

    The others stop to listen, leaning on the spade,

Whole men and comely, they fret at little things.

    The soul of him's singing like a thrush in a glade.

Hither and thither, hopping, like Robin on the grass,

    The soul in the broken man is beautiful and brave;

And while he weeds the pansies and the bright hours pass

    The bird caught in the cage whistles its joyous stave.

Katharine Tynan 1861 - 1931

Born in Dublin, she was a poet and a writer. She was a leading member of the Celtic literary revival and a contemporary of W B Yeats,and the Rossettis.

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