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Sonnet On Seeing a Piece of our Heavy Artillery Brought into Action

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This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.

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Sonnet On Seeing a Piece of our Heavy Artillery Brought into Action
by Wilfred Owen
4943Sonnet On Seeing a Piece of our Heavy Artillery Brought into ActionWilfred Owen

Be slowly lifted up, thou long black arm,
Great Gun towering towards Heaven, about to curse;
Sway steep against them, and for years rehearse
Huge imprecations like a blasting charm!
Reach at that Arrogance which needs thy harm,
And beat it down before its sins grow worse.
Spend our resentment, cannon,-yea, disburse
Our gold in shapes of flame, our breaths in storm.

Yet, for men's sakes whom thy vast malison
Must wither innocent of enmity,
Be not withdrawn, dark arm, the spoilure done,
Safe to the bosom of our prosperity.
But when thy spell be cast complete and whole,
May God curse thee, and cut thee from our soul!