Ivor Gurney - To certain comrades
Channel: PoetryProse Project
Date: 2015-03-22

Ivor Gurney wrote this in the trenches of World War One in 1916. He is talking about two comrades who have died, and noticing that, as is typical of us Brits, no one ever discussed their feelings with them while they lived.

Note that in this context "lovers" is the love between great friends, mateship, not sexual.

The line about England increasing is a reference to the hoped for postwar peace and prosperity.

TO CERTAIN COMRADES 

(E. S. AND J. H.) 

Living we loved you, yet withheld our praises 
Before your faces ; 

And though we had your spirits high in honour, 
After the English manner 

We said no word. Yet, as such comrades would, 
You understood. 

Such friendship is not touched by Death's disaster, 
But stands the faster ; 

And all the shocks and trials of time cannot 
Shake it one jot. 

Beside the fire at night some far December, 
We shall remember 

And tell men, unbegotten as yet, the story 
Of your sad glory — 

Of your plain strength, your truth of heart, your 

splendid 
Coolness, all ended ! 

All ended, . . . yet the aching hearts of lovers 
Joy overcovers, 

Glad in their sorrow ; hoping that if they must 
Come to the dust, 

An ending such as yours may be their portion, 
And great good fortune — 

That if we may not live to serve in peace 
England, watching increase — 

Then death with you, honoured, and swift, and 

high; 
And so — not die.