<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">In the Trenches</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line"><span class="smallcaps">As</span> I lay in the trenches</p><p class="line">Under the Hunter's Moon,</p><p class="line">My mind ran to the lenches</p><p class="line">Cut in a Wiltshire down.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">I saw their long black shadows,</p><p class="line">The beeches in the lane,</p><p class="line">The gray church in the meadows</p><p class="line">And my white cottage -- plain.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Thinks I, the down lies dreaming</p><p class="line">Under the hot moon's eye,</p><p class="line">Which sees the shells fly screaming</p><p class="line">And men and horses die.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">And what makes she, I wonder,</p><p class="line">Of the horror and the blood,</p><p class="line">And what's her luck, to sunder</p><p class="line">The evil from the good?</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">'T was more than I could compass,</p><p class="line">For how was I to think</p><p class="line">With such infernal rumpus</p><p class="line">In such a blasted stink?</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">But here's a thought to tally</p><p class="line">With t'other. That moon sees</p><p class="line">A shrouded German valley</p><p class="line">With woods and ghostly trees.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">And maybe there's a river</p><p class="line">As we have got at home</p><p class="line">With poplar-trees aquiver</p><p class="line">And clots of whirling foam.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">And over there some fellow,</p><p class="line">A German and a foe,</p><p class="line">Whose gills are turning yellow</p><p class="line">As sure as mine are so,</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Watches that riding glory</p><p class="line">Apparel'd in her gold,</p><p class="line">And craves to hear the story</p><p class="line">Her frozen lips enfold.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">And if he sees as clearly</p><p class="line">As I do where her shrine</p><p class="line">Must fall, he longs as dearly,</p><p class="line">With heart as full as mine.</p></div><p class="byline">Maurice Hewlett</p></body></html> · Great War