O What Is That Sound
O what is that sound which so thrills the ear
Down inthe valley drumming, drumming?
Only the scarlet soldiers, dear,
The soldiers coming.
O what is that light I see flashing so clear
Over the distance brightly, brightly ?
Only the sun on their weapons, dear,
As they step lightly.
O what are they doing with all that gear
What are they doing this morning, this morning?
Only the usual manoeuvres, dear,
Or perhaps a warning.
O why have they left the road down there
Why are they suddenly wheeling, wheeling?
Perhaps a change in the orders, dear,
Why are you kneeling ?
O haven't they stopped for the doctor's care
Haven't they reined their horses, their horses ?
Why, they are none of them wounded, dear,
None of these forces.
O is it the parson they want with white hair;
Is it the parson, is it, is it ?
No, they are passing his gateway, dear,
Without a visit.
O it must be the farmer who lives so near
It must be the farmer so cunning, so cunning?
They have passed the farm already, dear,
And now they are running.
O where are you going? stay with me here!
Were the vows you swore me deceiving, deceiving?
No, I promised to love you, dear,
But I must be leaving.
O it's broken the lock and splintered the door,
O it's the gate where they're turning, turning
Their feet are heavy on the floor
And their eyes are burning.
Let's have more Auden....
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stuartryder
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Don't laugh but it made me think of a passage in an Andy Mcnab novel set in wartorn Georgia.
Stuart
Stuart
It was Ray Miller's Imaginary Friends that reminded me of it - people going missing - 1930's totalitarianism.
It was originally called The Quarry - the quarry being the man who was in hiding and whose wife had betrayed him to the authorities.
Ve haf vays etc......
It was originally called The Quarry - the quarry being the man who was in hiding and whose wife had betrayed him to the authorities.
Ve haf vays etc......
After letting go of branches and walking through the ape gait, we managed to grasp what hands were really for......
