Herbert Read (1893-1968)
"The Happy Warrior"
His wild heart beats with painful sobs,His strin'd hands clench an ice-cold rifle,His aching jaws grip a hot parch'd tongue,His wide eyes search unconsciously.
He cannot shriek.
Bloody salivaDribbles down his shapeless jacket.
I saw him stabAnd stab againA well-killed Boche.
This is the happy warrior,This is he...