The Reasons
THEY sat before a dugout
In the unfamiliar quiet of silenced guns.
And one said:
“Now that it’s over
What about a bit of truth?
Let us say why we came to fight—
No frills—
You first, old Fire-eater!”—
One with a whimsical face spoke freely;
“I?—I sought some stir,
Some urge in living,
Some sense in dying.
I sought a mountain top
With a view!”
“And the answer?”
“I have seen others find
What I sought.”
“I don’t know that it’s anyone’s business
Why I came,”
(Another spoke as if unwillingly),
“A girl laughed, I think—
Funny?—Yes, funny as hell!”—
His neighbor said,
“I was a business man,
No sentiment,
Nothing of that kind,—
But the band played
And, suddenly, I saw
My country,
A woman, with hands outstretched,
Her back to the wall—”
“U—um,” they nodded,
“She’s got a pull,
That old lady.”
“As for me,” the speaker was abrupt,
“I was afraid!
I saw pictures,
I heard things—
I couldn’t sleep
For the Beast that was abroad—
Fear!
That’s what brought me!”
They sat silent for a moment
In the sun.
Then an older man said briefly,
“We were all afraid.....
... But what of hate?
Did no one come because of hate?”
......
“Yes—I”—
They looked at this man
Curiously,
But he added nothing,
And no one questioned.
A fresh-faced boy spoke modestly;
“Our family are all Army people—
So, of course—
And it’s all over now.
We got through.
But it was a near thing—
What?”