<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">Lament</h1><h1 align="center" class="head"><em>To the Immortal Tenth (Irish) Division</em></h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line"><span class="smallcaps">Suvla</span>, name of bitterness,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Myrrh and aloes in the mouth,</p><p class="line">Salt as Dead Sea water is!</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">All that splendour, all that youth,</p><p class="line">All that nobleness! Oh, waste</p><p class="line">Of the dearest, loveliest!</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Sands of Suvla, scarlet-dyed,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Where the Cross is down in shame</p><p class="line">And the Crescent flaunts its pride!</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Was it for this they went aflame,</p><p class="line">The young shining sons we nursed,</p><p class="line">For the fire and the fierce thirst?</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Suvla, that is holy ground</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Sown so thick with martyr's seed:</p><p class="line">There's no Christ now, but Mahound,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Now the Prophet and his breed</p><p class="line">Hold the hill, <em>their</em> glorious grave,</p><p class="line">Where they died but could not save.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Savage sun and brassy sky,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Rocks from which no waters sprung,</p><p class="line">Was it for this we gave to die</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">All our beautiful, our young</p><p class="line">Dear dead darlings sacrificed?</p><p class="line">Thou, -- wilt <em>Thou</em> repay, Lord Christ?</p></div></body></html> · Great War