War and Love/Civilians

by Richard Aldington

 

CIVILIANS

Why should you try to crush me?Am I so Christ-like?

You beat against me,Immense waves, filthy with refuse.I am the last upright of a smashed break-waterBut you shall not crush meThough you bury me in foaming slimeAnd hiss your hatred about me.

You break over me, cover me;I shudder at the contact;Yet I pierce through youAnd stand up, torn, dripping, shaken,But whole and fierce.