Transport of Wounded in Mesopotamia, 1917 - Margery Lawrence

You who sat safe at home
And let us die
You who said ‘all was well’
And knew the lie….
(Fever and flies and sand
Sand and fever and flies
Till the end of each weary day
Saw the wearier night arise!)
You who sat safe at home
And let us die!

Sun in our hopeless eyes
As the crawling barges plied
On the waveless, treacly tide –
(Sand and fever and flies
Flies and fever and sand
Till we smiled at our good friend Death
When he shook us by the hand!)
When we dreamt of rest and care –
But the mirage flitted away
And day after tortured day
Closed – in the same despair!

Hugh, and bury it deep –
Bury us side by side!
Shuffle the cards again
Juggle – ‘regret’ and ‘explain’ –
You – for whose fault we died!

We who lie so far away
God! Hear our cry
Upon their hands our blood
Is yet undry
Those who sat safe at home
And let us die!

Margery Lawrence