Prose & Poetry - The Muse in Arms - The Bonny, Bonny Braes
First published in London
in November 1917 and reprinted in February 1918 The Muse in Arms
comprised, in the words of editor E. B. Osborne:
"A collection of war poems, for the most part written in the field of action, by seamen, soldiers, and flying men who are serving, or have served, in the Great War".
Below is one of eleven poems featured within the Loving and Living section of the collection.
You can access other poems within the section via the sidebar to the right.
The Bonny, Bonny Braes
by R. W. Sterling
I
Lonely I linger'd when you went,
Recalling how the days had fled
Each with its mingled treasure pent
Of shine and shade remembered...
Oh, how I crush'd the grapes divine,
Blending a flood of wakeful wine.
Next look'd I on the well-lov'd
scene,
Eager its ready wealth to glean:
And forg'd therefrom a cup of gold -
Red hills, blue loch, and islands green -
(Rare alchemy!). So could it hold
That vintage of our joy, and I
Drink deep the draught of memory.
II
Love, be not sad but listen
To the laughter of the wave,
Sweeping ever madly after
His desire above yon cave:
See the leaping shingle glisten
With the fire his kisses gave -
Oh mingle, love, your laughter
With the laughter of the wave.
The first zeppelin raid on London was on 31 May 1915. Earlier raids in January 1915 had avoided London. The London raid resulted in 28 deaths and 60 injuries.
- Did you know?
