Prose & Poetry - The Muse in Arms - The Star-shell
Updated - Sunday, 27 April, 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 fifteen poems featured within the Battle Pieces section of the collection.  You can access other poems within the section via the sidebar to the right.

The Star-shell
by Patrick MacGill
(Loos)

A star-shell holds the sky beyond
Shell-shivered Loos, and drops
In million sparkles on a pond
That lies by Hulluch copse.

A moment's brightness in the sky,
To vanish at a breath,
And die away, as soldiers die
Upon the wastes of death.

"Trench Foot" was a fungal infection of the foot which could become gangrenous, caused by exposure to wet and cold.

Original Material © Michael Duffy 2000-07, SafeSurf Rated