RAW RECRUIT
by Robert William Service, 1874-1958
They said to me: "Thou shalt not kill, "
And well I understood.
"Thy brother's blood thou shalt not spill,"
They spake, and it was good.
And then I could not understand,
Yet had to do their will;
Cold steel they put into my hand,
Saying: "Go forth and kill. "
Go forth with rage of race and slay;
Pile up the corpses for
What's murder called in Peace - always
Is hollowed in war.
The Church has blest your bloody blade,
The which in peace is cursed;
So go forth, son, all unafraid,
And do your bloody worst.
"What's wrong in Peace in War is right,
So I will do their will,
And bear me bravely in the fight,
And kill and kill and kill.....
Yet as I brave the battle test
With dripping sword in hand,
Proving me equal with the best....
Christ, help me understand!
1 comment:
Through a classmate, I discovered the following poem by Robert Service. He was thinking about a war long long ago, but for me the poem is timeless regarding any war past, present, and future. I joined the reserves in the 60's and spent a lot of time training and preparing for the Viet Nam war. I never had to go to war, but my feelings were similar to this poem; "Christ help me understand" .
Does anyone have suggestions for other poems on war that have this timeless quality?
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