Ivor Gurney - The Silent One

Who died on the wires , and hung there , one of two - Who for his hours of life had chattered through Infinite lovely chatter of Bucks accent: Yet faced unbroken wires; stepped over , and went A noble fool , faithful to his stripes - and ended. But I weak , hungry , and willing only for the chance Of line- to fight in the line , lay down under unbroken Wires , and saw the flashes and kept unshaken , Till the politest voice - a finicking accent , said: ‘Do you think you might crawl through there: there's a hole.' Darkness shot at: I smiled , as politely replied – ‘I'm afraid not , Sir.' There was no hole , no way to be seen Nothing but chance of death , after tearing of clothes. Kept flat , and watched the darkness , hearing bullets whizzing – And thought of music - and swore deep heart's oaths (Polite to God) and retreated and came on again , Again retreated a second time , faced the screen.Ivor Gurneyhttp://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-silent-one-4/