Ivor Gurney Poems

What things I have missed today,
I know very well,
But the seeing of them
each new time is miracle.
...

When tobacco came, When Raleigh did first bring in
The unfabled herb, the plant of peace, the king
Of comfort bringers, then indeed new hope
...

O, but the racked clear tired strained frames we had!
Tumbling in the new billet on to straw bed,
Dead asleep in eye shutting. Waking as sudden
...

It seemed that it were well to kiss first earth
On landing, having traversed the narrow seas,
...

There was a water dump there, and regimental
Carts came every day to line up and fill full
Those rolling tanks with chlorinated clear mixture;
...

O may these days of pain,
These wasted-seeming days,
Somewhere reflower again
With scent and savour of praise.
...

Smudgy dawn scarfed in military colours
Northward, and flowing wider like slow sea water,
Woke in lilac and elm and almost among garden flowers.
...

Those dreadful evidences of Man's ill-doing
The kindly Mother of all shall soon hide deep,
Covering with tender fingers her children asleep,
...

The wind frightens my dog, but I bathe in it,
Sound, rush, scent of the Spring fields.
...

We marched, and saw a company of Canadians
Their coats weighed eighty pounds at least, we saw them
...