The Soldier

-
The Soldier by Rupert Brooke
Logo of this blog: Poems Rethabile Likes

The Soldier
If I should die, think only this of me: That there’s some corner of a foreign field That is for ever England. There shall be In that rich earth a richer dust concealed; A dust whom England bore, shaped, made aware, Gave, once, her flowers to love, her ways to roam, A body of England’s, breathing English air, Washed by the rivers, blest by suns of home. And think, this heart, all evil shed away, A pulse in the eternal mind, no less Gives somewhere back the thoughts by England given; Her sights and sounds; dreams happy as her day; And laughter, learnt of friends; and gentleness, In hearts at peace, under an English heaven.
Poet: Rupert Brooke
Source: Poetry Foundation
Books: @AbeBooks

There shall be in that rich earth a richer dust concealed.

Do take a moment to read the guidelines. Use this form to sign up and receive poems. Check out my latest book "Mbera", available at Canopic Publishing and other equally, extremely very finest book nooks. This blog uses Buttondown for email subscriptions and updates. By subscribing, you may be sharing data with that service.
See our Privacy Policy for details.

🌱 Enjoying this blog? Consider Buying me coffee.

Comments

vera said…
How extraordinary! We need a Ukrainian version, alas.
17 December 2025 at 10:24
Rethabile said…
Unfortunately we do. Poems are good at describing elation and fear, living and dying.
17 December 2025 at 10:46
Abigail George said…
I have always been a fan of Rupert Brooke since high school. We need to talk about the trauma of war and write about it like there's no tomorrow. He spoke passionately from his heart. I can feel these words, see these words and know the price another poet paid for the price of eternity. It's like manna and rain, tears mixing with blood, sweat, smoke and burnt flesh. Poems are meant to comfort us during times of lost love and war. A consolation for suffering. What's the first prize in war? What and where are the glories to be found in war? Does war turn boys into men? Sadly no. Sometimes it just breaks the humanity in them, their spirit. How does the light find its way back in, is my question, is it only through the face of God's love, is it only through the grieving of the former life?
20 December 2025 at 13:02
Rethabile said…
I started with his sonnets, which he is a master of. I agree with you that 'We need to talk about the trauma of war and write about it like there's no tomorrow.'

Yes, we literally do have to expose war, which the planet is never deprived of.
24 December 2025 at 23:37
Post a Comment