Escape

(August 6, 1916.--Officer previously reported died ofwounds, now reported wounded: Graves, Captain R.,Royal Welch Fusiliers.)

... But I was dead, an hour or more.I woke when I'd already passed the doorThat Cerberus guards, and half-way down the roadTo Lethe, as an old Greek signpost showed.Above me, on my stretcher swinging by,I saw new stars in the subterrene sky:A Cross, a Rose in bloom, a Cage with bars,And a barbed Arrow feathered in fine stars.I felt the vapours of forgetfulnessFloat in my nostrils. Oh, may Heaven blessDear Lady Proserpine, who saw me wake,And, stooping over me, for Henna's sakeCleared my poor buzzing head and sent me backBreathless, with leaping heart along the track.After me roared and clattered angry hostsOf demons, heroes, and policeman-ghosts."Life! life! I can't be dead! I won't be dead!Damned if I'll die for any one!" I said....Cerberus stands and grins above me now,Wearing three heads--lion, and lynx, and sow."Quick, a revolver! But my Webley's gone,Stolen!... No bombs ... no knife....The crowd swarms on,Bellows, hurls stones.... Not even a honeyed sop ...Nothing.... Good Cerberus!... Good dog!... but stop!Stay!... A great luminous thought ... I do believeThere's still some morphia that I bought on leave."Then swiftly Cerberus' wide mouths I cramWith army biscuit smeared with ration jam;

And sleep lurks in the luscious plum and apple.He crunches, swallows, stiffens, seems to grappleWith the all-powerful poppy ... then a snore,A crash; the beast blocks up the corridorWith monstrous hairy carcase, red and dun--Too late! for I've sped through.O Life! O Sun!