Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


STAND-TO: GOOD FRIDAY MORNING by SIEGFRIED SASSOON

Poet Analysis

First Line: I'D BEEN ON DUTY FROM TWO TILL FOUR
Last Line: AND GET MY BLOODY OLD SINS WASHED WHITE!
Subject(s): ARMY LIFE; GOOD FRIDAY; HOLIDAYS; HOLY WEEK; SOLDIERS' WRITINGS; WORLD WAR I; DRILLS & MINOR TACTICS; FIRST WORLD WAR;

I'D been on duty from two till four.
I went and stared at the dug-out door.
Down in the frowst I heard them snore.
'Stand to!' Somebody grunted and swore.
Dawn was misty; the skies were still;
Larks were singing, discordant, shrill;
They seemed happy; but I felt ill.
Deep in water I splashed my way
Up the trench to our bogged front line.
Rain had fallen the whole damned night.
O Jesus, send me a wound to-day,
And I'll believe in Your bread and wine,
And get my bloody old sins washed white!




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