048   Camden's Remembrance  Day 10 11 19
Channel: LONDONCYBERART
Date: 12/11/2019

MCMXIV - by Philip Larkin ... Written in 1964, Larkin captures the patriotic optimism of young men queuing to enlist in the forces in 1914. ... The poem also reflects on the momentous changes in England following the First World War, ending with the line: "Never such innocence again." ... Never such innocence, ... Never before or since, ... As changed itself to past ... Without a word – the men ... 
Leaving the gardens tidy, ... The thousands of marriages, ... Lasting a little while longer: ... Never such innocence again. ...Dreamers - Siegfried Sassoon ... Soldiers are citizens of death's grey land, ... Drawing no dividend from time's to-morrows. ... In the great hour of destiny they stand, ... Each with his feuds, and jealousies, and sorrows. ... Soldiers are sworn to action; they must win ... Some flaming, fatal climax with their lives. ... Soldiers are dreamers; when the guns begin ... They think of firelit homes, clean beds and wives.
I see them in foul dug-outs, gnawed by rats, ... And in the ruined trenches, lashed with rain, ... Dreaming of things they did with balls and bats, ... And mocked by hopeless longing to regain ... Bank-holidays, and picture shows, and spats, ... And going to the office in the train.