First World War Poetry Digital Archive

Music

MUSIC by WILFRED OWEN I have been urged by earnest violins And drunk their mellow sorrows to the slake Of all my sorrows and my thirsting sins. My heart has beaten for a brave drum's sake. Huge chords have wrought me mighty: I have hurled Thuds of gods' thunder. And with old winds pondered Over the curse of this chaotic world,--- With low lost winds that maundered as they wandered. I have been gay with trivial fifes that laugh; And songs more sweet than possible things are sweet; And gongs, and oboes. Yet I guessed not half Life's symphony till I had made hearts beat, And touched Love's body into trembling cries, And blown my love's lips into laughs and sighs.

Citation

“Music,” by Owen, Wilfred (1893-1918). The Estate of Wilfred Owen. The Complete Poems and Fragments of Wilfred Owen edited by Jon Stallworthy first published by Chatto & Windus, 1983. Preliminaries, introductory, editorial matter, manuscripts and fragments omitted. via First World War Poetry Digital Archive, accessed May 3, 2024, http://ww1lit.nsms.ox.ac.uk/ww1lit/collections/item/3323.

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