Ivor Gurney - Sonnets 1917 - 5 - The Mother
Channel: PoetryProse Project
Date: 2015-04-03

5. ENGLAND THE MOTHER 

We have done our utmost, England, terrible 
- And dear taskmistress, darling Mother and stem. 
The unnoticed nations praise us, but we turn 
Firstly, only to thee — " Have we done well ? 
Say, are you pleased ? " — and watch your eyes 

that tell 
To us all secrets, eyes sea-deep that burn 
With love so long denied ; with tears discern 
The scars and haggard look of all that hell. 

Thy love, thy love shall cherish, make us whole, 
Whereto the power of Death's destruction is 

weak. 
Death impotent, by boys bemocked at, who 
Will leave unblotted in the soldier-soul 
Gold of the daffodil, the sunset streak, 
The innocence and joy of England's blue.