In the Trenches

Isaac Rosenberg 1890 (Bristol) – 1918 (Somme)



I snatched two poppies
From the parapet’s ledge,
Two bright red poppies
That winked on the ledge.
Behind my ear
I stuck one through,
One blood red poppy
I gave to you.

The sandbags narrowed
And screwed out our jest,
And tore the poppy
You had on your breast ...
Down - a shell - O! Christ,
I am choked ... safe ... dust blind, I
See trench floor poppies
Strewn. Smashed you lie.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 27, 2023

21 sec read
345

Quick analysis:

Scheme ABABXCDC XEDEXFAF
Closest metre Iambic trimeter
Characters 388
Words 73
Stanzas 2
Stanza Lengths 8, 8

Isaac Rosenberg

Isaac Rosenberg was an English poet of the First World War. more…

All Isaac Rosenberg poems | Isaac Rosenberg Books

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