<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">The Pyres</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line"><span class="smallcaps">Pyres</span> in the night, in the night!</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">And the roaring yellow and red.</p><p class="line">Trooper, trooper, why so white?</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">We are out to gather our dead.</p><p class="line">We have brought dry boughs from the bloody wood</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">And the torn hill-side;</p><p class="line">We have felled great trunks, wet with blood</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Of brothers that died;</p><p class="line">We have piled them high for a flaming bed,</p><p class="line">Hemlock and ash and pine for a bed,</p><p class="line">A throne in the night, a throne for a bed --</p><p class="line">And we go to gather our dead.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">There where the oaks loom, dark and high,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Over the sombre hill,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Body on body, cold and still,</p><p class="line">Under the stars they lie.</p><p class="line">There where the silver river runs,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Careless and calm as fate,</p><p class="line">Mowed, mowed by the terrible guns,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">The stricken brothers wait.</p><p class="line">There by the smoldering house, and there</p><p class="line">Where the red smoke hangs on the heavy air,</p><p class="line">Under the ruins, under the hedge,</p><p class="line">Cheek by cheek at the forest-edge;</p><p class="line">Back to breast, three men deep,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Hearing not bugle or drum,</p><p class="line">In the desperate trench they died to keep,</p><p class="line">Under the starry dome they sleep,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Murmuring, "Brothers, come!"</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">This way! I heard a call</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Like a stag's when he dies.</p><p class="line">Under the willows I saw him fall.</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Under the willows he lies.</p><p class="line">Give me your hand. Raise him up.</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Lift his head. Strike a light.</p><p class="line">This morning we shared a crust and a cup.</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">He wants no supper to-night.</p><p class="line">Take his feet. Here the shells</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Broke all day long,</p><p class="line">Moaning and shrieking hell's</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Bacchanalian song!</p><p class="line">Last night he helped me bear</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Men to hell's fêting.</p><p class="line">To-morrow, maybe, somewhere,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">We, too, shall lie waiting.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Pyres in the night, in the night!</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Weary and sick and dumb,</p><p class="line">Under the flickering, faint starlight</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">The drooping gleaners come.</p><p class="line">Out of the darkness, dim</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Shadowy shadow-bearers,</p><p class="line">Dragging into the bale-fire's rim</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Pallid death-farers.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Pyres in the night, in the night!</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">In the plain, on the hill.</p><p class="line">No volleys for their last rite.</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">We need our powder -- to kill.</p><p class="line">High on their golden bed,</p><p class="line">Pile up the dead!</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Pyres in the night, in the night!</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Torches, piercing the gloom!</p><p class="line">Look! How the sparks take flight!</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Stars, stars, make room!</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Smoke, that was bone and blood!</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Hark! The deep roar.</p><p class="line">It is the souls telling God</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">The glory of <span class="smallcaps">war</span>!</p></div><p class="byline">-- Hermann Hagedorn.</p></body></html> · Great War