16. The Last Post. Graves, Robert. 1918. Fairies and Fusiliers

Robert Graves (1895–1985). Fairies and Fusiliers. 1918.

16. The Last Post


THE BUGLER sent a call of high romance—
“Lights out! Lights out!” to the deserted square.
On the thin brazen notes he threw a prayer,
“God, if it’s this for me next time in France…
O spare the phantom bugle as I lie	5
Dead in the gas and smoke and roar of guns,
Dead in a row with the other broken ones
Lying so stiff and still under the sky,
Jolly young Fusiliers too good to die.”