Anthem for Doomed Youth
What passing-bells for these who die as cattle?
Only the monstrous anger of the guns.
Only the stuttering rifles' rapid rattle
Can patter out their hasty orisons.
No mockeries for them; no prayers nor bells,
Nor any voice of mourning save the choirs, --
The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells;
And bugles calling for them from sad shires.
What candles may be held to speed them all?
Not in the hands of boys, but in their eyes
Shall shine the holy glimmers of goodbyes.
The pallor of girls' brows shall be their pall;
Their flowers the tenderness of patient minds,
And each slow dusk a drawing-down of blinds.
Wilfred Owen 1893 - 1918
Wilfred Owen was born in Oswestry, Shropshire in 1893 the eldest of the four children of Tom and Susan Owen. The family later moved to Shrewsbury. He was killed in action whilst leading his men over the Sambre-Oise canal in Northern France, a week before the end of the war. The telegram from the War Office announcing his death arrived at his family home as the church bells were ringing out across the town to celebrate the signing of the Armistice which signalled the end of hostilities.
Wilfred Owen was born in Oswestry, Shropshire in 1893 the eldest of the four children of Tom and Susan Owen. The family later moved to Shrewsbury. He was killed in action whilst leading his men over the Sambre-Oise canal in Northern France, a week before the end of the war. The telegram from the War Office announcing his death arrived at his family home as the church bells were ringing out across the town to celebrate the signing of the Armistice which signalled the end of hostilities.
