At the Second Battle of the Marne
They found Joyce Kilmer face down in the dirt
A sniper’s bullet in his brain
While T.S. Elliot’s lounged in London
Writing Prufrock.
Joyce Kilmer’s bloody mouth was prest
Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast.
T.S. Elliot’s timid mouth was prest
Against Vivienne Haigh-Wood’s supple breast.
But after the dreaming
When hope was gone
Death would be fair
With an equal share for both.
As death levels the grass
Season after season
The scythe cutting down each blade alike
And the reaper gathering it into bales
All bundled together; together to rest.
In death’s dominion
The hero and the shirker share the same fate,
Feeding the new grass.
Author notes
Well, okay. But who would you rather be, Joyce Kilmer or T.S. Elliot?
A contest entry
- G...est pour la Guerre! by DogFish.
1000 points, ended November 14, 2008, 6 entries
Bronze trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
What did you think
Comments
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Wow! More insight into the lives of authors! I read about Kilmer not too long ago... very surprised to find out she was a he! Edna Millay gets saddled with St. Vincent as her middle name and Al Kilmer gets saddled with Joyce. Why not Edna Joyce Millay and Alfred St. Vincent Kilmer? ah, but I digress.
I'm glad I hit the "Return the Favor" link as this tops the poems I've read of yours so far. This is an awesome historical synopsis of two pillars of Twentieth Century literature. Perhaps this historical poetry is your niche?
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I feel a little guilty ragging on T.S. because I believe he had a medical reason for not serving in World War I, and let's not forget Ezra Pound who was a Nazi sympathizer and hated Jews.
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"Joyce Kilmer’s bloody mouth was prest
Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast.
T.S. Elliot’s timid mouth was prest
Against Vivienne Haigh-Wood’s supple breast."
Compelling lines to make your point:
Of course one would rather be Elliot than Kilmer; but you make us ashamed to admit it! -
Poets and World War I...the great unwriten book!
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