War and Love/Picket

by Richard Aldington

 

PICKET

I
First Watch: Night

The stars which night by night of late
Were veiled to all men's eyes
Are veiled in cloud,
As my clear happy mind
In this brief solitude.

II
Last Watch: Dawn

Dusk and deep silence …

Three soldiers huddled on a bench
Over a red-hot brazier,
And a fourth one stands apart
Watching the cold rainy dawn.

Then the familiar sound of birds—
Clear cock-crow, caw of rooks,
Frail pipe of linnet, the "ting! ting!" of chaffinches,
And over all the lark
Outpiercing even the robin …

Wearily the sentry moves
Muttering the one word: "Peace."