Prose & Poetry - The Muse in Arms - Holy Communion, Suvla Bay
Updated - Saturday, 24 May, 2003

First published in London in November 1917 and reprinted in February 1918 The Muse in Arms comprised, in the words of editor E. B. Osborne:

"A collection of war poems, for the most part written in the field of action, by seamen, soldiers, and flying men who are serving, or have served, in the Great War".

Below is one of seven poems featured within The Christian Soldier section of the collection.  You can access other poems within the section via the sidebar to the right.

Holy Communion, Suvla Bay
by W. H. Littlejohn

Behold a table spread!
A battered corned-beef box, a length of twine,
An altar-rail of twigs and shreds of string.
...For the unseen, divine,
Uncomprehended Thing
A hallowed space amid the holy dead.

Behold a table spread!
And on a fair, white cloth the bread and wine,
The symbols of sublime compassioning,
The very outward sign
Of that the nations sing,
The body that He gave, the blood He shed.

Behold a table spread!
And kneeling soldiers in God's battle-line,
A line of homage to a mightier King:
All-knowing All-benign!
Hearing the prayers they bring,
Grant to them strength to follow where He led.

A "body snatcher" was the sardonic Australian nick-name given to stretcher-bearers.

Original Material © Michael Duffy 2000-07, SafeSurf Rated