Page:Poems of the Great War - Cunliffe.djvu/131

 \Mieiice once again the whole sky overhead

Flared blind with searchlights, and the shriek of

shell And scream of shrapnel roused him. Drowsily He stared about him wondering. Then he fell Into deep dreamless slumber.

4c 4= ^ 4: * * *

He coukl see Two dark eyes peeping at him, ere he knew He was awake, and it again was day — An August morning burning to clear blue. The frightened rabbit scuttled. ..

! Far away,

A sound of firing ... Up there, in the sky Big dragon-flies hung hovering. . . Snowballs burst About them. ..

Flies and snowballs ! With a cry He crouched to watch the airmen pass — the first That he'd seen under fire. Lord, that was pluck — Shells bursting all about them — and what nerve ! They took their chance, and trusted to their luck. At such a dizzy height to dip and swerve. Dodging the shell-fire. ..

Hell ! but one was hit, And tumbling like a pigeon, plump. ..

Thank Heaven, It righted, and then turned ; and after it The whole flock followed safe — four, five, sLx, seven.

�� �