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Authors:
Siegfried Sassoon Quotes

Siegfried Sassoon quotes

English Poet September 8, 1886 – September 1, 1967

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Quotes

I am banished from the patient men who fight. They smote my heart to pity, built my pride. Shoulder to aching shoulder, side by side, They trudged away from life's broad wealds of light. Their wrongs were mine; and ever in my sight. They went arrayed in honour. But they died,--Not one by one: and mutinous I cried. To those who sent them out into the night. The darkness tells how vainly I have striven. To free them from the pit where they must dwell. In outcast gloom convulsed and jagged and... Siegfried Sassoon
I keep such music in my brain. No din this side of death could quell; Glory exhulting over pain, And Beauty, garlanded in hell. My dreaming spirit will not heed. The roar of guns that would destroy. My life that on the gloom can read. Proud-surging melodies of joy. To the world's end I went, and found. Death in his carnival of glare; But in my torment I was crowned, And music dawned above despair Siegfried Sassoon
Suicide in the trenches: I knew a simple soldier boy. Who grinned at life in empty joy, Slept soundly through the lonesome dark, And whistled early with the lark. In winter trenches, cowed and glum. With crumps and lice and lack of rum, He put a bullet through his brain. No one spoke of him again. * * * * *You smug-faced crowds with kindling eye. Who cheer when soldier lads march by, Sneak home and pray you'll never know. The hell where youth and laughter go. Siegfried Sassoon
Siegfried Sassoon quote: "Man, it seemed, had been created to jab the life out of Germans."
Man, it seemed, had been created to jab the life out of Germans. Siegfried Sassoon
December stillness, teach me through your trees. That loom along the west, one with the land, The veiled evangel of your mysteries. While nightfall, sad and spacious, on the down. Deepens, and dusk embues me where I stand, With grave diminishings of green and brown, Speak, roofless Nature, your instinctive words; And let me learn your secret from the sky, Following a flock of steadfast-journeying birds. In lone remote migration beating by. December stillness, crossed by twilight roads, Teach... Siegfried Sassoon
Oh yes, I know the way to heaven was easy. We found the little kingdom of our passion that all can share who walk the road of lovers. In wild and secret happiness we stumbled; and gods and demons clamoured in our senses. Siegfried Sassoon
Before the Battle: Music of whispering trees. Hushed by the broad-winged breeze. Where shaken water gleams; And evening radiance falling. With reedy bird-notes calling. O bear me safe through dark, you low-voiced streams. I have no need to pray. That fear may pass away; I scorn the growl and rumble of the fight. That summons me from cool. Silence of marsh and pool, And yellow lilies islanded in light. O river of stars and shadows, lead me through the night. Siegfried Sassoon
Siegfried Sassoon quote: "I keep such music in my brain No din this side of death can..."
I keep such music in my brain No din this side of death can quell; Glory exulting over pain, And beauty, garlanded in hell. Siegfried Sassoon
Mute in that golden silence hung with green, Come down from heaven and bring me in your eyes. Remembrance of all beauty that has been, And stillness from the pools of Paradise. Siegfried Sassoon
Who's this—alone with stone and sky? It's only my old dog and I— It's only him; it's only me; Alone with stone and grass and tree. What share we most—we two together? Smells, and awareness of the weather. What is it makes us more than dust? My trust in him; in me his trust. Siegfried Sassoon
EVERYONE suddenly burst out singing; And I was filled with such delight As prisoned birds must find in freedom, Winging wildly across the white Orchards and dark-green fields; on—on—and out of sight. Everyone’s voice was suddenly lifted; And beauty came like the setting sun: My heart was shaken with tears; and horror Drifted away ... O, but Everyone Was a bird; and the song was wordless; the singing will never be done. Siegfried Sassoon
Dark clouds are smouldering into red While down the craters morning burns. The dying soldier shifts his head To watch the glory that returns: He lifts his fingers toward the skies Where holy brightness breaks in flame; Radiance reflected in his eyes, And on his lips a whispered name. Siegfried Sassoon
Does it matter?--losing your legs?... For people will always be kind, And you need not show that you mind When the others come in after football To gobble their muffins and eggs. Does it matter?--losing your sight?... There's such splendid work for the blind; And people will always be kind, As you sit on the terrace remembering And turning your face to the light. Do they matter?--those dreams from the pit?... You can drink and forget and be glad, And people won't say that you're mad; For... Siegfried Sassoon
Why do you lie with your legs ungainly huddled, And one arm bent across your sullen cold. Exhausted face? It hurts my heart to watch you, Deep-shadow'd from the candle's guttering gold; And you wonder why I shake you by the shoulder; Drowsy, you mumble and sigh and turn your head.... You are too young to fall asleep for ever; And when you sleep you remind me of the dead. Siegfried Sassoon
Shaken from sleep, and numbed and scarce awake, Out in the trench with three hours' watch to take, I blunder through the splashing mirk; and then Hear the gruff muttering voices of the men Crouching in cabins candle-chinked with light. Hark! There's the big bombardment on our right Rumbling and bumping; and the dark's a glare Of flickering horror in the sectors where We raid the Boche; men waiting, stiff and chilled, Or crawling on their bellies through the wire. "What? Stretcher-bearers... Siegfried Sassoon

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