<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">No Man's LandS </h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line"><span class="smallcaps">Not</span> to an angel but a friend</p><p class="line">He turned at the day's bitter end.</p><p class="line">It was so comforting to feel</p><p class="line">Some one was near, to see him kneel</p><p class="line">By the deep shell-hole's edge: to know</p><p class="line">He was not left to the fierce foe.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">This soldier who had eased his head</p><p class="line">And staunched the flow where it had bled,</p><p class="line">Who made a pillow of his breast</p><p class="line">Where the poor tossing head might rest,</p><p class="line">Wore a young face he used to know</p><p class="line">Yesterday, some time, long ago.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">The night's cold it was bitter enough,</p><p class="line">But who shall keep the fierce Day off?</p><p class="line">And must he lie, be burnt and baked</p><p class="line">In the hot sands, with lips unslaked? --</p><p class="line">Will no one give him dews and rain?</p><p class="line">Lord, send the frozen night again!</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">But here's the one who comforted!</p><p class="line">No angel, but a boy instead,</p><p class="line">Slender and young, above him leans:</p><p class="line">The sands are changed to tender greens;</p><p class="line">He hears the wind in the sycamore</p><p class="line">Sing a low song by his mother's door.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Such tender touches to his wound,</p><p class="line">Such loving arms to clasp him round,</p><p class="line">Until they find him the third day!</p><p class="line">The stretcher-bearers heard him say,</p><p class="line">Don't leave me, Denis! I am here."</p><p class="line"><em>Denis?</em> But Denis died last year!</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">He will maintain that Denis was</p><p class="line">Beside him in his bitter case,</p><p class="line">Denis more beautiful and gay</p><p class="line">Than in the dear, remembered day:</p><p class="line">God sent no angel, but a friend</p><p class="line">To save him at the bitter end.</p></div></body></html> · Great War