Trench+Poetry+&+Songs

Each country that sent troops to fight in the Great War had poets. Many, were gifted writers before they enrolled. Some became great writers because of their experiences. However, these people were not the only ones who recorded their thoughts, feelings or experiences. There was a great tradition of writing “trench poetry” and songs throughout the war. There existed many trench newsletters, especially among the British, for soldiers to publish their writings. It seems amazing that men who were put through horrible conditions had strength to write beautiful works.

**"The Spirit"** ... 'Woodbine Willy' When there ain't no gal to kiss you, And the postman seems to miss you, And the fags have skipped an issue, Carry on. When ye've got an empty belly, And the bulley's rotten smelly, And you're shivering like a jelly, Carry on. When the Boche has done your chum in, And the sergeant's done the rum in, And there ain't no rations comin', Carry on. When the world is red and reeking, And the shrapnel shells are shrieking, <span style="font-family: tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">And your blood is slowly leaking, <span style="font-family: tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Carry on. <span style="font-family: tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">When the broken battered trenches, <span style="font-family: tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Are like the bloody butchers' benches, <span style="font-family: tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">And the air is thick with stenches, <span style="font-family: tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Carry on.

<span style="font-family: tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Carry on, <span style="font-family: tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Though your pals are pale and wan, <span style="font-family: tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">And the hope of life is gone, <span style="font-family: tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Carry on. <span style="font-family: tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">For to do more than you can, <span style="font-family: tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Is to be a British man, <span style="font-family: tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Not a rotten 'also ran,' <span style="font-family: tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Carry on.

<span style="font-family: tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">|| <span style="font-family: tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">**“Optimism”** … A.V. Ratcliffe

<span style="font-family: tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">At last there'll dawn the last of the long year, <span style="font-family: tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Of the long year that seemed to dream no end; <span style="font-family: tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Whose every dawn but turned the world more drear <span style="font-family: tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">And slew some hope, or led away some friend. <span style="font-family: tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Or be you dark, or buffeting, or blind, <span style="font-family: tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">We care not, Day, but leave not death behind. <span style="font-family: tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">The hours that feed on war go heavy-hearted: <span style="font-family: tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Death is no fare wherewith to make hearts fain; <span style="font-family: tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Oh! We are sick to find that they who started <span style="font-family: tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">With glamour in their eyes come not again. <span style="font-family: tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">O Day, be long and heavy if you will, <span style="font-family: tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">But on our hopes set not a bitter heel. <span style="font-family: tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">For tiny hopes, like tiny flowers of spring, <span style="font-family: tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Will come, though death and ruin hold the land; <span style="font-family: tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Though storms may roar they may not break the wing <span style="font-family: tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Of the earthed lark whose song is ever bland. <span style="font-family: tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Fell year unpitiful, slow days of scorn, <span style="font-family: tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Your kind shall die, and sweeter days be born.

<span style="font-family: tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">=='It's a long way to Tipperary'== <span style="font-family: tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"> > It's a long way to Tipperary, it's a long way to go. > It's a long way to Tipperary, to the sweetest girl I know. > Good-bye, Piccadilly, > Farewell Leicester Square. > It's a long long way to Tipperary, but my heart's right there.<span style="font-family: tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">As you can see, the poetry and songs from the trenches were hopeful and descriptive of the conditions the soldiers went through.

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