‘They’
by Siegfried Sassoon
The Bishop tells us: ‘When the boys come back
They will not be the same; for they’ll have fought
In a just cause: they lead the last attack
On Anti-Christ; their comrades’ blood has bought
New right to breed an honourable race,	5
They have challenged Death and dared him face to face.’
‘We’re none of us the same!” the boys reply.
‘For George lost both his legs; and Bill’s stone blind;
Poor Jim’s shot through the lungs and like to die;
And Bert’s gone syphilitic: you’ll not find	10
A chap who’s served that hasn’t found some change.’
And the Bishop said: ‘The ways of God are strange!’