<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="" class="head">Left Alone</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line">LEFT alone among the dying!</p><p class="line">d All around are moaning, sighing.</p><p class="line">Or are cursing, sobbing, crying</p><p class="line">In Death's crushing, hushing hand.</p><p class="line">We are torn upon the wire.</p><p class="line">We are scorched and burnt with fire.</p><p class="line">Or lie choking in the mire</p><p class="line">Of the star-lit "No Man's Land."</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Hear our prayers, O! gentle Jesus,</p><p class="line">Send Thine angels down to ease us</p><p class="line">From the pains of Hell that seize us.</p><p class="line">From our burning, yearning thirst.</p><p class="line">We are broken, we are battered.</p><p class="line">Bodies twisted, crushed and shattered</p><p class="line">By the shells and bullets scattered</p><p class="line">On this strip of land accurst.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Round about are shadows creeping.</p><p class="line">Formless Things which wake the sleeping.</p><p class="line">Glaring eyes from shell-holes peeping,</p><p class="line">Mocking always at our pain.</p><p class="line">Cold and wet our limbs are numbing.</p><p class="line">Fevered brows are drumming, drumming-</p><p class="line">Are the stretchers <em>never</em> coming?</p><p class="line">Are we numbered with the slain?</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">God in Heaven, canst Thou hear us?</p><p class="line">Mary Mother! Dost Thou fear us?</p><p class="line">Stretcher-bearers, are you near us?</p><p class="line">Give us water or we die!</p><p class="line">But a grisly shadow's creeping</p><p class="line">With his cruel scythe a-reaping</p><p class="line">Weary souls which fall to sleeping</p><p class="line">In a choking, croaking sigh.</p></div></body></html> · Great War