THEY sat before a dugout
In the unfamiliar quiet of silenced guns.
And one said:
“Now that it's over
What about a bit of truth?
Let us say why we came to fight —
No frills —
You first, old Fire-eater!” —
One with a whimsical face spoke freely;
“I?— I sought some stir,
Some urge in living,
Some sense in dying.
I sought a mountain top
With a view!”
“And the answer?”
“I have seen others find
What I sought.”
“I do n't know that it's anyone's business
Why I came,”
( Another spoke as if unwillingly ),
“A girl laughed, I think —
Funny?— Yes, funny as hell!” —
His neighbor said,
“I was a business man,
No sentiment,
Nothing of that kind,—
But the band played
And, suddenly, I saw
My country,
A woman, with hands outstretched,
Her back to the wall —”
“U — um,” they nodded,
“She's got a pull,
That old lady.”
“As for me,” the speaker was abrupt,
“I was afraid!
I saw pictures,
I heard things —
I could n't sleep
For the Beast that was abroad —
Fear!
That's what brought me!”
They sat silent for a moment
In the sun.
Then an older man said briefly,
“We were all afraid.....
... But what of hate?
Did no one come because of hate?”
“Yes — I” —
They looked at this man
Curiously,
But he added nothing,
And no one questioned.
A fresh-faced boy spoke modestly;
“Our family are all Army people —
So, of course —
And it's all over now.
We got through.
But it was a near thing —
What?”