Christ And The Soldier Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: A B C C D E A F D C G H G| umsily dumped down upon his knees Gasping | A |
| - | |
| 'O blessed crucifix I'm beat ' | - |
| - | |
| And Christ still sentried by the seraphim Near the front line between two splintered trees Spoke him | B |
| - | |
| 'My son behold these hands and feet ' | - |
| - | |
| The soldier eyed him upward limb by limb Paused at the Face then muttered | C |
| - | |
| 'Wounds like these Would shift a bloke to Blighty just a treat ' | - |
| - | |
| Christ gazing downward grieving and ungrim Whispered | C |
| - | |
| 'I made for you the mysteries Beyond all battles moves the Paraclete ' | - |
| - | |
| II | - |
| - | |
| The soldier chucked his rifle in the dust And slipped his pack and wiped his neck and said | D |
| - | |
| 'O Christ Almighty stop this bleeding fight ' | - |
| - | |
| Above that hill the sky was stained like rust With smoke In sullen daybreak flaring red The guns were thundering bombardment's blight The soldier cried | E |
| - | |
| 'I was born full of lust With hunger thirst and wishfulness to wed Who cares today if I done wrong or right ' | - |
| - | |
| Christ asked all pitying | A |
| - | |
| 'Can you put no trust In my known word that shrives each faithful head Am I not resurrection life and light ' | - |
| - | |
| III | - |
| - | |
| Machine guns rattled from below the hill High bullets flicked and whistled through the leaves And smoke came drifting from exploding shells | F |
| - | |
| Christ said | D |
| - | |
| 'Believe and I can cleanse your ill I have not died in vain between two thieves Nor made a fruitless gift of miracles ' | - |
| - | |
| The soldier answered | C |
| - | |
| 'Heal me if you will Maybe there's comfort when a soul believes In mercy and we need it in these hells But be you for both sides I'm paid to kill And if I shoot a man his mother grieves Does that come into what your teaching tells ' | - |
| - | |
| A bird lit on the Christ and twittered gay Then a breeze passed and shook the ripening corn A Red Cross waggon bumped along the track Forsaken Jesus dreamed in the desolate day Uplifted Jesus Prince of Peace forsworn An observation post for the attack | G |
| - | |
| 'Lord Jesus ain't you got no more to say ' | - |
| - | |
| Bowed hung that head below the crown of thorns The soldier shifted and picked up his pack And slung his gun and stumbled on his way | H |
| - | |
| 'O God ' he groaned 'why ever was I born ' | - |
| - | |
| The battle boomed and no reply came back | G |
Siegfried Sassoon
(2)
Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
Submit Spanish Translation
Submit German Translation
Submit French Translation
Write your comment about Christ And The Soldier poem by Siegfried Sassoon
Best Poems of Siegfried Sassoon