11/13/2011

These fought in any case" by Ezra Pound

"These Fought in Any Case"
by Ezra Pound



These fought in any case,
and some believing
pro domo, in any case .....

Died some, pro patria*,
walked eye-deep in hell
believing in old men's lies, then unbelieving
came home, home to a lie,
home to many deceits,
home to old lies and new infamy;
usury age-old and age-thick
and liars in public places.

Daring as never before, wastage as never before.
Young blood and high blood,
fair cheeks, and fine bodies;

fortitude as never before

frankness as never before,
disillusions as never told in the old days,
hysterias, trench confessions,
laughter out of dead bellies.
 

*The famous line from one of Horace's "Odes":
Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori ("Sweet and fitting it is to die for one's country.")

http://www.rjgeib.com/thoughts/fight/fight.html

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