Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE QUESTION by WILFRID WILSON GIBSON

Poet Analysis

First Line: I WONDER IF THE OLD COW DIED OR NOT
Last Line: TILL DOOMSDAY IF THE OLD COW DIED OR NOT.
Subject(s): WORLD WAR I; FIRST WORLD WAR;
I wonder if the old cow died or not.
Gey bad she was the night I left, and sick.
Dick reckoned she would mend. He knows a lot --
At least he fancies so himself, does Dick.

Dick knows a lot. But maybe I did wrong
To leave the cow to him, and come away.
Over and over like a silly song
These words keep bumming in my head all day.

And all I think of, as I face the foe
And take my lucky chance of being shot,
Is this -- that if I'm hit, I'll never know
Till Doomsday if the old cow died or not.



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