"WHERE DEATH BECOMES ABSURD AND LIFE ABSURDER": LITERARY VIEWS OF THE GREAT WAR 1914-1918
 
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TYPICAL EXAMPLES ARE RUPERT BROOKE'S 'PEACE',
R. D. GREENWAY'S 'SOLDIERS BATHING', GEOFFREY 
FABER'S 'KILLED IN ACTION', AND RICHARD DENNYS'S 'BETTER 
FAR TO PASS AWAY'
 
 

Dennys, 'Better Far to Pass Away' 

Better far to pass away 
 While the limbs are strong and young, 
Ere the ending of the day, 
 Ere Youth's lusty song be sung, 
Hot blood pulsing through the veins, 
 Youth's high hope a burning fire, 
Young men needs must break the chains 
 That hold them from their heart's desire. 

My friends the hills, the sea, the sun, 
 The winds, the woods, the clouds, the trees - 
How feebly, if my youth were done, 
 Could I, an old man, relish these! 
With laughter, then, I'll go to greet 
 What Fate has still in store for me, 
And welcome Death if we should meet, 
 And bear him willing company. 

My share of fourscore years and ten 
 I'll gladly yield to any man, 
And take no thought of 'where' or 'when', 
 Contented with my shorter span. 
For I have learned what love may be, 
 And found a heart that understands, 
And known a comrade's constancy, 
 And felt the grip of friendly hands. 

Come when it may, the stern decree 
 For me to leave the cheery throng 
 And quit the sturdy company 
  Of brothers that I work among. 
 No need for me to look askance, 
  Since no regret my prospect mars. 
 My day was happy - and perchance 
  The coming night is full of stars. 
 
 

Quoted from: Lads: Love Poetry of the Trenches, ed. Martin Taylor, London, 1998, p. 67 
 

    
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