<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">The Broken Soldier</h1><h1 align="center" class="head"><em>To Earl Grey</em></h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line"><span class="smallcaps">The</span> broken soldier sings and whistles day to dark;</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">He's but the remnant of a man, maimed and half-blind,</p><p class="line">But the soul they could not harm goes singing like the lark,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Like the incarnate Joy that will not be confined.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">The Lady at the Hall has given him a light task,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">He works in the gardens as busy as a bee;</p><p class="line">One hand is but a stump and his face a pitted mask;</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">The gay soul goes singing like a bird set free.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Whistling and singing like a linnet on wings;</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">The others stop to listen, leaning on the spade,</p><p class="line">Whole men and comely, they fret at little things.</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">The soul of him's singing like a thrush in a glade.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Hither and thither, hopping, like Robin on the grass,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">The soul in the broken man is beautiful and brave;</p><p class="line">And while he weeds the pansies and the bright hours pass</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">The bird caught in the cage whistles its joyous stave.</p></div></body></html> · Great War