The Poetry Corner

Remorse

By Siegfried Loraine Sassoon

Lost in the swamp and welter of the pit, He flounders off the duck-boards; only he knows Each flash, and spouting crash, - each instant lit When gloom reveals the streaming rain. He goes Heavily, blindly on. And, while he blunders, "Could anything be worse than this!" - he wonders, Remembering how he saw those Germans run, Screaming for mercy among the stumps of trees: Green-faced, they dodged and darted: there was one Livid with terror, clutching at his knees... Our chaps were sticking 'em like pigs... "O hell!" He thought - "there's things in war one dare not tell Poor father sitting safe at home, who reads Of dying heroes and their deathless deeds."