The poetry of a century ago
I'm not one to generally sit down and read a book of poetry, but that's exactly what I did when I picked up this anthology of poems. This particular book called out to me, perhaps because I enjoy reading things of the WWI time period. The poems collected in this book all reference to World War I, penned during the years of 1914-1917.
"Rubadub! Rubadub! Wake and take the road again,
Wheedle-deedle-deedle-dee, Come, boys, come!
You that mean to fight it out, wake and take your load again,
Fall in! Fall in! Follow the fife and drum!"
[The Toy Band by Henry Newbolt]
I have new favorite poems, whereas I never had any favorite poems before. I've become quite acquainted with writers I had not known before, in addition to seeing familiar names such as Robert Frost, Arthur Conan Doyle, and Rudyard Kipling.
"Shadow by shadow, stripped for fight,
The lean black cruisers search the sea.
Night-long their level shafts of light
Revolve, and find no enemy.
Only they know each leaping wave
May hide the lightning, and their grave."
[The Searchlights by Alfred Noyes]
I so enjoyed this charming book! I could definitely see myself going through the entire book and reading them all again someday. Also, the poems in this book can be read online on websites such as Bartleby.com if you're interested.
"God rest you, happy gentlemen,
Who laid your good lives down,
Who took the khaki and the gun
Instead of cap and gown.
God bring you to a fairer place
Than even Oxford town."
[The Spires of Oxford by Winifred M. Letts]