There, in the darkness, the glories are mated.

There, in the darkness, a world is created.

There, in this Pentecost, streaming on high.

There, with a glory of stars in the sky.

There the broad flag of our union and liberty

Rides the proud night-wind and tyrannies die.

 [8]ON THE WESTERN FRONT

[8]

(1916)

I.

I FOUND a dreadful acre of the dead,

I

Marked with the only sign on earth that saves.

The wings of death were hurrying overhead,

The loose earth shook on those unquiet graves;

For the deep gun-pits, with quick stabs of flame,

Made their own thunders of the sunlit air;

Yet, as I read the crosses, name by name,

Mort pour la France, it seemed that peace was there;

Sunlight and peace, a peace too deep for thought,

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