Happy+Warrior

= **// The Happy Warrior //** =  His wild heart beats with painful sobs,

 His strain'd hands clench an ice-cold rifle,

 His aching jaws grip a hot parch'd tongue,

 His wide eyes search unconsciously.

He cannot shriek.

Bloody saliva

 Dribbles down his shapeless jacket.

I saw him stab

And stab again

 A well-killed Boche.

This is the happy warrior,

 This is he...

Herbert Read