Prose & Poetry - The Muse in Arms - What is War?
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.

What is War
(Weilburg A. D. Lahn, February 11th, 1916)
by J. M. Rose-Troup

What is war?
Ask the young men who fight,
Men who defend the right,
Ask them - what is war?
"Honour - or death - that is war,"
Say the young men.

What is war?
Ask of the women who weep,
Mourning for those who sleep,
Ask them - what is war ?
"Sorrow and grief - that is war,"
Say the women.

What is war?
By ways beyond our ken,
God tries the souls of men,
Sends retribution just,
Punishing vice and lust,
God's wrath for sin - that is war.

"Coffin Nails" was a term used by British soldiers to describe cigarettes.

Original Material © Michael Duffy 2000-07, SafeSurf Rated