Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE FIRST AIR-RAID WARNING by EVELYN D. BANGAY

First Line: WHEN THE QUIET ACRES I LOOK UPON WERE SHAKEN
Last Line: NOT SEED-TIME AND HARVEST, BUT WARS, SHALL PASS AWAY.
Subject(s): AIR RAIDS; AIR WARFARE; WORLD WAR II; SECOND WORLD WAR;
When the quiet acres I look upon were shaken—
Not by a drum-pulse quickening the hand
But sinisterly, sourly, by factory sirens taken
Into the service of A.R.P.'s command—
Quietly the men there engaged in turnip-hoeing,
Glancing to skyward, weatherwise and calm,
Deftly continued to thin the farmer's sowing,
Saw the hurrying wardens and spat upon their palm.
Would I had their wisdom and faith each waiting day ...
Not seed-time and harvest, but wars, shall pass away.



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