Prose & Poetry - The Muse in Arms - Outposts
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 seventeen poems featured within the Moods and Memories section of the collection.
You can access other poems within the section via the sidebar to the right.
Outposts
by A. L. Jenkins
(Aden 1916)
When the moonlit shadows
creep,
When the sun beats pitiless down,
Steadfast, vigilant they keep
Watch and ward about the town.
Guardians of an Empire's
gate,
In the sunshine and the dust
Still beside their guns they wait,
Faithful to their weary trust.
Not for them the hero's
cross,
Not for them the hero's grave,
Thrill of victory, pain of loss,
Praise of those they fell to save.
Only days of monotone,
Sand and fever, flies and fret,
All unheeded and unknown,
Little thanks they're like to get.
Yet mayhap in after-days
- Distant eye the clearer sees -
Gods apportioning the praise
Shall be kindly unto these.
A "salient" is a battle line that projects into territory nominally held by enemy forces.
- Did you know?
