<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">Non-Combatant</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line"><span class="smallcaps">Before</span> one drop of angry blood was shed</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">I was sore hurt and beaten to my knee;</p><p class="line">Before one fighting man reeled back and died</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">The War-Lords struck at me.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">They struck me down -- an idle, useless mouth,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">As cumbrous -- nay, more cumbrous -- than the dead,</p><p class="line">With life and heart afire to give and give</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">I take a dole instead.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">With life and heart afire to give and give</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">I take and eat the bread of charity.</p><p class="line">In all the length of all this eager land,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">No man has need of me.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">That is my hurt -- my burning, beating wound;</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">That is the spear-thrust driven through my pride!</p><p class="line">With aimless hands, and mouth that must be fed,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">I wait and stand aside.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Let me endure it, then, with stiffened lip:</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">I, even I, have suffered in the strife!</p><p class="line">Let me endure it then -- I give my pride</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Where others give a life.</p></div><p class="byline">-- Cicely Hamilton.</p></body></html> · Great War