<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">"Alan Seeger"</h1><p class="byline"> WASHINGTON VAN DUSEN <span class="smallcaps">in The Chicago Tribune</span></p><div class="stanza"><p class="line">No beauty could escape his loving eyes,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">Not even ruthless war could hide from view</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">The smiling fields where crimson poppies grew,</p><p class="line">Nor mar the sunset's rose and purple dyes;</p><p class="line">He watched a vine--clad slope, with glad surprise</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">To hear grapepickers sing, although they knew</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">Just on the other sidethe cannon threw</p><p class="line">Their deadly shells and woke the startled skies.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">But over all that made Champagne so fair,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">He saw the grandeur of the field of strife,</p><p class="line">Exulting in the cause that placed him there,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">He felt a calm, mid all the carnage rife,</p><p class="line">And faced the battle with a spirit rare,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">For death may be more wonderful than life.</p></div></body></html> · Great War