Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE LAST POST by ROBERT RANKE GRAVES

Poet Analysis

First Line: THE BUGLER SENT A CALL OF HIGH ROMANCE
Last Line: "JOLLY YOUNG FUSILIERS TOO GOOD TO DIE."
Subject(s): SOLDIERS' WRITINGS; WORLD WAR I; FIRST WORLD WAR;

THE bugler sent a call of high romance --
"Lights out! Lights out!" to the deserted square.
On the thin brazen notes he threw a prayer,
"God, if it's this for me next time in France...
O spare the phantom bugle as I lie
Dead in the gas and smoke and roar of guns,
Dead in a row with the other broken ones
Lying so stiff and still under the sky,
Jolly young Fusiliers too good to die."





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