A Song of the Guns
by Gilbert Frankau (1884–1952)
- Free to read
- 15 min read
- 9 chapters
- Reading level: 7th grade
"A Song of the Guns" by Gilbert Frankau is a poignant collection of poetry written during the early 20th century, specifically in the context of World War I. The book captures the harrowing experiences of soldiers, particularly those serving in the artillery, as they cope with the relentless demands and horrors of warfare. It reflects on themes such as duty, sacrifice, and the grim realities faced by military personnel during this tumultuous time. In this powerful collection, Frankau uses his own experiences from the battlefields of France, particularly the battle of Loos, to convey the multifaceted relationship between the soldiers and their guns, which are depicted both as tools of destruction and as cruel masters. The poems explore different facets of military life—from the gun-teams trudging through mud to the observers calculating enemy positions—highlighting the camaraderie, toil, and emotional toll of war. Each piece resonates with urgency and a deep sense of loss, depicting not only the physicality of battle but also the psychological burden carried by those who serve. Through vivid imagery and intense language, Frankau immerses readers in the trenches, capturing the essence of life under fire and the souls bound to the machines of war.
Read the opening
A Song of the Guns
These are our masters, the slim
Grim muzzles that irk in the pit;
That chafe for the rushing of wheels,
For the teams plunging madly to bit
As the gunners wing down to unkey,
For the trails sweeping half-circle-right,
For the six breech-blocks clashing as one
To a target viewed clear on the sight—
Gray masses the shells search and tear
Into fragments that bunch as they run—
For the hour of the red battle-harvest,
The dream of the slaves of the gun!
We have bartered our souls to the guns;
Every fibre of body and brain
Have we trained to them, chained to them. Serfs?
Aye! but proud of the weight of our chain,
Of our backs that are bowed to their workings,
To hide them and guard and disguise,
Of our ears that are deafened with service,
Of hands that are scarred, and of eyes
Grown hawklike with marking their prey,
Of wings that are slashed as with swords
When we hover, the turn of a blade
From the death that is sweet to our lords.
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About this edition
This free edition of A Song of the Guns by Gilbert Frankau comes from Project Gutenberg eBook #40345, released 2012-07-26. It is in the public domain in the United States, so you can read it here in full at no cost, on any phone, tablet or computer. Genre: Poetry, History - Warfare.
Summary provided by Project Gutenberg (automatically generated).
