<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">Unfit</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line"><span class="smallcaps">With</span> younger men he takes his stand,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">To the recruiting-sergeant nigh,</p><p class="line">Sees others chosen: lifts a hand</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">In hopes to catch the unwilling eye,</p><p class="line">While his mood turns to black despair</p><p class="line">Heedless of those that grin and stare.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Careless of jibe and jeer he waits,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Thrusts himself where the eye must fall,</p><p class="line">A voice, indifferent as Fate's,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Orders "Stand back!" and that is all.</p><p class="line">"Too old!" He steps down to make room</p><p class="line">For younger men more slow to come.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Too old at fifty! But he feels</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">There's lots of fighting in him yet.</p><p class="line">Some hint of glory lifts, reveals,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">In the smirched days he would forget.</p><p class="line"><em>They</em> might blot out the shameful past</p><p class="line">If he fell fighting at the last.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">If he could meet them, one poor rag</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Of glory cast about his shame --</p><p class="line">One rag of glory! England's flag</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Wrapping in splendour his poor frame!</p><p class="line">And all the people he once knew</p><p class="line">Saying "He died as white men do!"</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Mirage! Such dreams as come with sleep!</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">And he is innocent and small,</p><p class="line">Running through orchard grasses deep</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">To his dead mother's tender call;</p><p class="line">Before he broke her heart and bowed</p><p class="line">His father's comely head and proud.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">There's nothing left to hope for more.</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Poor fool, to think he might atone!</p><p class="line">He sees in a mist a fast-shut door.</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Shambling and blear-eyed and alone</p><p class="line">He goes, and darkness covers him,</p><p class="line">Who saw the glory and the gleam.</p></div></body></html> · Great War