<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">Men of Verdun</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line"><span class="smallcaps">There</span> are five men in the moonlight</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">That by their shadows stand;</p><p class="line">Three hobble humped on crutches,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">And two lack each a hand.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Frogs somewhere near the roadside</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Chorus their chant absorbed:</p><p class="line">But a hush breathes out of the dream-light</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">That far in heaven is orbed.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">It is gentle as sleep falling</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">And wide as thought can span,</p><p class="line">The ancient peace and wonder</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">That brims the heart of man.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Beyond the hills it shines now</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">On no peace but the dead,</p><p class="line">On reek of trenches thunder-shocked,</p><p class="line">Tense fury of wills in wrestle locked,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">A chaos crumbled red!</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">The five men in the moonlight</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Chat, joke, or gaze apart.</p><p class="line">They talk of days and comrades,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">But each one hides his heart.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">They wear clean cap and tunic,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">As when they went to war;</p><p class="line">A gleam comes where the medal's pinned:</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">But they will fight no more.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">The shadows, maimed and antic,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Gesture and shape distort,</p><p class="line">Like mockery of a demon dumb</p><p class="line">Out of the hell-din whence they come</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">That dogs them for his sport:</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">But as if dead men were risen</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">And stood before me there</p><p class="line">With a terrible fame about them blown</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">In beams of spectral air,</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">I see them, men transfigured</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">As in a dream, dilate</p><p class="line">Fabulous with the Titan-throb</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Of battling Europe's fate;</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">For history 's hushed before them,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">And legend flames afresh, --</p><p class="line">Verdun, the name of thunder,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Is written on their flesh.</p></div><p class="byline">Laurence Binyon</p></body></html> · Great War