To the Immortal Tenth (Irish) Division <br /> <br /> <br />Suvla, name of bitterness, <br />Myrrh and aloes in the mouth, <br />Salt as Dead Sea water is! <br />All that splendour, all that youth, <br />All that nobleness! Oh, waste <br />Of the dearest, loveliest! <br /> <br />Sands of Suvla, scarlet-dyed, <br />Where the Cross is down in shame <br />And the Crescent flaunts its pride! <br />Was it for this they went aflame, <br />The young shining sons we nursed, <br />For the fire and the fierce thirst? <br /> <br />Suvla, that is holy ground <br />Sown so thick with martyr's seed: <br />There's no Christ now, but Mahound, <br />Now the Prophet and his breed <br />Hold the hill, their glorious grave, <br />Where they died but could not save. <br /> <br />Savage sun and brassy sky, <br />Rocks from which no waters sprung, <br />Was it for this we gave to die <br />All our beautiful, our young <br />Dear dead darlings sacrificed? <br />Thou, -- wilt Thou repay, Lord Christ?<br /><br />Katharine Tynan<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/lament-31/
