Poems used at start of chapters in "Diary of an Unprofessional Sol

[StuartAB]

I've been working through the excellent "Diary of an Unprofessional Soldier" trying to work out for the sources of the poems which Capt. T A H Nash used to start (and sometimes finish) each chapter. Most have been traced using Google (other search engines are available), but the following texts have eluded me> if anyone recognises any of them, please shout!

Thanks, Stuart

If men should ask, I would not have you say

I went with ringing laughter in my eyes,

Caught by the glamour of a high emprise

And the imagined triumphs of the day.

A month ago they marched to fight,

Away ’twixt the woodland and the sown,

I walked that lonely road tonight

And yet I could not feel alone. (2 further verses)

The ’ireling soldier earns his bit of fame, poor blighter:

Takes ’ardish knocks and likewise gives the same;

Gets offered up on other blokes’ behalf –

A bloomin’ scapegoat, not no fatted calf –

(11 more lines)

They take my man and give me a dole

That so I may be fed;

But they do not pay for the heavy toll

They take from the love and peace of my soul

As I brood and pray he may not be dead.

(2 further verses)

These are the newly dead

Who lie

So stiff, so strangely still;

Their last look frozen on their pallid mask

And their dull eyes so pale –

Like china, staring pale –

The shattered dead;

Poor tortured wrecks

Of once such lovely form;

How can I write of them

Who are so hideous as to be obscene;

My eyes burn hot with sad and angry tears;

Poor Horrors!

What can expiate the crime

Of all these ruined shrines?

Fair temples of the Gods.

Oh, then the piteous little ones

Whose breath

Has passed full many days. . . .

Ah, God,

Pity the unburied Dead.

[seaJane]

I'm afraid I haven't the time to investigate at the moment, and I don't recognise any of them straight off (though the last one makes me think of Isaac Rosenberg for some reason) - but you could try posting them in the "Lost Quotes" section of the Poety Library's online site:

http://poetrylibrary.org.uk/queries/lostquotes/

[StuartAB]

Thanks! I've given that a try.

Stuart

[seaJane]

just remembered - try Google Books as opposed to just ordinary google search. Sometimes picks up phrases.

Good luck!