Anthem for Doomed Youth



What passing-bells for these who die as cattle
         Only the monstrous anger of the guns.
         Only the stuttering rifles' rapid rattle
         Can patter out their hasty orisons.
         No mockeries for them; no prayers nor bells,
         Nor any voice of mourning save the choirs,--
         The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells;
         And bugles calling for them from sad shires.

         What candles may be held to speed them all?
         Not in the hands of boys, but in their eyes
         Shall shine the holy glimmers of goodbyes.
         The pallor of girls' brows shall be their pall;
         Their flowers the tenderness of patient minds,
         And each slow dusk a drawing-down of blinds.
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Submitted by naama on July 15, 2020

Modified on March 05, 2023

32 sec read
19

Quick analysis:

Scheme ABABCDCD XEEXFF
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 718
Words 109
Stanzas 2
Stanza Lengths 8, 6

Wilfred Edward Salter Owen

Wilfred Edward Salter Owen, (18 March 1893 – 4 November 1918) was an English poet and soldier. He was one of the leading poets of the First World War. more…

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