Prose & Poetry - War Poetry of S J Robinson - Rest and be Thankful
Reproduced within this area
of the site are present-day First World War poems written by S. J. Robinson.
Click here for
an introduction to the poems.
Rest and be Thankful
A soldier of the Highlanders,
The 51st, the Light,
Sat at rest and shivering
As wounded screamed in night
Today should have been Summer
The First Day Of July
Instead, he'd followed them over
Watched slaughtered youngsters die
He bitterly cursed commanders
And swore about the ones
Like general Haig or Rawlinson
Who'd sent them at the guns
He couldn't sleep, yet couldn't wake
Still haunted by those men
Who'd ne'er more see a waterfall
Or ramble 'long a glen
As thousands fade to pain-ed groans
He'd felt guilty to have life
Until he found a postcard
Sent loving from his wife
It came up with morning rations
Then hid in pockets of rank wool
A photograph, of Scotland
- The 'Rest and Be Thank-full -
A "Communication Trench" was a narrow trench constructed at an angle to a defensive trench to permit concealed access to the defensive trench.
- Did you know?
