Prose & Poetry - The Muse in Arms - The Star-shell
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 fifteen poems featured within the Battle Pieces section of the collection. You can access other poems within the section via the sidebar to the right.
The Star-shell
by Patrick MacGill
(Loos)
A star-shell holds the sky
beyond
Shell-shivered Loos, and drops
In million sparkles on a pond
That lies by Hulluch copse.
A moment's brightness in the
sky,
To vanish at a breath,
And die away, as soldiers die
Upon the wastes of death.
A "red cap" was a British military policeman.
- Did you know?
