Ivor Gurney - Strafe
Channel: PoetryProse Project
Date: 2015-03-25

This was written in the trenches of World War One. 

The "crump" was the bursting of a German shell, often the widely used 5.9 incher.

Framilode is a small village on the River Severn.

The " crumps " are falling twenty to the minute. 
We crouch, and wait the end of it — or us. 
Just behind the trench, before, and in it, 
The " crumps " are falling twenty to the minute ; 
(0 Framilode ! O Maisemore's laughing linnet !) 
Here comes a monster like a motor-bus. 
The " crumps " are falling twenty to the minute : 
We crouch and wait the end of it — or us.