I.
We have been dead, our shroud enfolds the sea,
Honor’s a rag tossed out for winds to rend,
And Virtue is most shamed and Lust goes free:
And trembling Wisdom vainly seeks a friend.
Our heroes lost in trenches or the sea
Are dust or rag but no more clay than we,
For we once set ourselves the frightful task
Of healing delicate wounds with blazing brands.
Oh God, look not upon our souls nor ask
That we display the colour of these hands,
But help us that we consecrate to Thee
The remnant of our poor humanity.
II.
We have been cruel in thought. Life’s not so sweet
With pearls and pleasures that the race should set
Its ardour to destruction. Brutal feet
Crush down the roses. God, let us forget
That we accused of barbarous intent
The foe that lies in death magnificent.
How can we hate forever, having proved
All men are bright and brave and somewhere loved?
How can men hate forever? We who have slain
The dread of death shall kill the hate from hell,
Our bodies grown superior to pain,
Our hearts shall learn the love ineffable.
O foeman who was valorous, we crave
Forgiveness for the crimes we would forgive.
All men have sinned, but God made all men brave.
We ask forgiveness by this deep choked grave,
And a little time, a little time to live,
A little time to live and forget in the world
The years of swords and horrors we repent.
Forget the doom and shrieking curses hurled
On foes that lie in death magnificent.
O God, men did not know men were so brave
Till foes stood silent by the deep choked grave.
You can read the rest of the poem on the archive.org site