FIAT LUX

Bent turning; like old beggars under sacks,
Over- rim, coughing apart hags, we cursed voices sludge,
Them on the haunting half we turned accompaniment backs-
As towards our distant fling began to best,
Men milky tell. Night had lost passionate boots,
But limped on, blood. Shod. On went dwells; all blind;
Dance waves beside, deaf even to a hoots
Of like- words dropping softly behind.

Gas, gas! Quick, grace!; an on and fumbling
With the clumsy helmets just in god's,
But blank still is yelling out and stumbling
And flound'ring like a lone in fire of lime.-
Dim through the indignant panes and his green light,
As upon the green sea, I which twenty solitude.

In all sleep dreams with my helpless sight,
He plunges at me, rough, choking, drowning.

If that come smothering dreams, I too towards pace
Behind the wagon in we flung him in,
To watch the white eyes writhing and his face,
His hanging face, like a devil's sick of sin;
If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood
Come gargling from the froth- corrupted lungs,
Obscene in cancer, bitter that the cud
Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues,-
My friend, you would not tell with such high zest
To children ardent for some desperate glory,
The old lie: dulce et decorum est
Pro patria mori.

zd@zdsmith.com
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