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Doublereed Archive - Posting 000029.txt from 2004/12

From: Oboeeee@-----.com
Subj: [DR-L] Quote of the Day
Date: Thu, 9 Dec 2004 20:05:40 -0500

On Seeing A Piece Of Our Artillery Brought Into Action

Be slowly lifted up, thou long black arm,
Great gun towering towards Heaven, about to curse;
Sway steep against them, and for years rehearse
Huge imprecations like a blasting charm!
Reach at that Arrogance which needs thy harm,
And beat it down before its sins grow worse;
Spend our resentment, cannon,--yea, disburse
Our gold in shapes of flame, our breaths in storm.

Yet, for men's sakes whom thy vast malison
Must wither innocent of enmity,
Be not withdrawn, dark arm, thy spoilure done,
Safe to the bosom of our prosperity.
But when thy spell be cast complete and whole,
May God curse thee, and cut thee from our soul!

-Wilfred Owen (1893 - 1918) English poet
*In September, 1918 Owen returned to the front line in France where he won
the Military Cross for bravery. He was preparing his first collection when, on 4
November, he was killed. The telegram informing his parents of his death
arrived on 11 November, the day the signing of the Armistice ended the war.

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