These Fought in Any Case

A poem for Veterans Day by Ezra Pound These fought in any case, and some believing pro domo, in any case ….. Died some, pro patria, walked eye-deep in hell believing in old men’s lies, then unbelieving came home, home to a lie, home to many deceits, home to old lies and new infamy; usury age-old and age-thick and liars in public places. Daring as never before, wastage as never before. Young blood and high blood, fair cheeks, and fine bodies; fortitude as never before frankness as never before, disillusions as never told in the old days, hysterias, trench confessions, laughter out of dead bellies. Ezra Pound’s poem was a response to the horrors of World War I and the corruption that led to, and followed from it.

2007-11-11