The Poetry Corner

In An Underground Dressing-Station

By Siegfried Loraine Sassoon

Quietly they set their burden down: he tried To grin; moaned; moved his head from side to side. ***** He gripped the stretcher; stiffened; glared; and screamed, "O put my leg down, doctor, do!" (He'd got A bullet in his ankle; and he'd been shot Horribly through the guts.) The surgeon seemed So kind and gentle, saying, above that crying, "You must keep still, my lad." But he was dying.