<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">Not to Keep</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line"><span class="smallcaps">They</span> sent him back to her. The letter came</p><p class="line">Saying... and she could have him. And before</p><p class="line">She could be sure there was no hidden ill</p><p class="line">Under the formal writing, he was in her sight --</p><p class="line">Living. -- They gave him back to her alive --</p><p class="line">How else? They are not known to send the dead --</p><p class="line">And not disfigured visibly. His face? --</p><p class="line">His hands? She had to look -- to ask,</p><p class="line">"What was it, dear?" And she had given all</p><p class="line">And still she had all -- <em>they</em> had -- they the lucky!</p><p class="line">Was n't she glad now? Everything seemed won,</p><p class="line">And all the rest for them permissible ease.</p><p class="line">She had to ask, "What was it, dear?"</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:%">"Enough,</p><p class="line">Yet not enough. A bullet through and through,</p><p class="line">High in the breast. Nothing but what good care</p><p class="line">And medicine and rest -- and you a week,</p><p class="line">Can cure me of to go again." The same</p><p class="line">Grim giving to do over for them both.</p><p class="line">She dared no more than ask him with her eyes</p><p class="line">How was it with him for a second trial.</p><p class="line">And with his eyes he asked her not to ask.</p><p class="line">They had given him back to her, but not to keep.</p></div><p class="byline">Robert Frost</p></body></html> · Great War