*Cease Fire*

The fight was done an hour ago: The whole brigade has fallen back, And I've been wand'rin' to and fro, A-askin' any--white or black, 'Say--have you seen my brother, Jack? His troop was first in the attack!'

I should have seen him here by now: An hour ago the 'cease fire' went. He isn't wounded any'ow, 'Cos with the stretcher squads I went, An' all my other time I've spent A-hangin' round the doctor's tent.

Among the huddled, fallen men I picked a way across the plain. I got a dozen yards, an' then Came back for fear I'd turn my brain.... The mangled horrors of the slain! O Christ! I can't go there again!

Say, have you seen my brother Jack? Don't know! an' damn you, don't much care!-- But 'scuse me, chum, a-talkin' back, I'm sorter flustered with the glare. These sands are hot, an' so's the air-- Perhaps he's doin' guard somewhere!

Old mother said before we went, 'Be sure you keep him in your sight' (Not knowin' what a campaign meant). 'Don't let him stay out late o' night!'-- I wonder if he funked the fight An' bolted. O pray God he might!

They're layin' out our dead just now, He can't be----, no, that--that ain't sense, An' when he comes there'll be a row! A-keepin' me in this suspense! 'Tis here our line of killed commence, I'll sorter look--for make-pretence!

Pretendin' some one's here I know-- I'm half inclined to turn aback-- But one by one, along I go, And see the crimson clottin' black.... His troop was first in the attack! What! Jack! Is this--this Thing our Jack?