<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="" class="head">To Sylvia</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Two months ago the skies were blue,</p><p class="line">The fields were fresh and green,</p><p class="line">And green the willow tree stood up,</p><p class="line">With the lazy stream between.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Two months ago we sat and watched</p><p class="line">The river drifting by--</p><p class="line">And now--you're back at your work again</p><p class="line">And here in a ditch I lie.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">God knows--my dear--I did not want</p><p class="line">To rise and leave you so,</p><p class="line">But the dead men's hands were beckoning</p><p class="line">And I knew that I must go.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">The dead men's eyes were watching, lass,</p><p class="line">Their lips were asking too,</p><p class="line">We faced it out and payed the price--</p><p class="line">Are we betrayed by you?</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">The days are long between, dear lass,</p><p class="line">Before we meet again,</p><p class="line">Long days of mud and work for me,</p><p class="line">For you long care and pain.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">But you'll forgive me yet, my dear,</p><p class="line">Because of what you know,</p><p class="line">I can look my dead friends in the face</p><p class="line">As I couldn't two months ago.</p></div><p><em>October 20th</em>, 1917</p></body></html> · Great War