<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="" class="head">A Soldier's Question: Spring, 1917</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line">A Soldier's Question: Spring, 1917</p><p class="line">CURSE I the Spring that God has sent</p><p class="line">Raising such discord in my soul?</p><p class="line">'Twas fitter when the winter's blast</p><p class="line">Could lash my spirit to the mast</p><p class="line">And send me drugged by brute control</p><p class="line">To battle with a grim content!</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Then Death took hold on the neck of Life</p><p class="line">And Earth's rough scalp lay touzled and scarred.</p><p class="line">And the winter-scream swept round me fierce—</p><p class="line">The softer visions to disperse—</p><p class="line">While stripped by storms I stood on guard</p><p class="line">Cleaving the wind with keener knife.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">But now with Spring to dream or grieve</p><p class="line">I am tempted, and the blushful day</p><p class="line">Reveals her old-time beauty, far</p><p class="line">From mating with the ghost of War.</p><p class="line">Am I then laggard if I pray</p><p class="line">From this soul's scaffold quick reprieve?</p></div></body></html> · Great War