First World War Poetry Digital Archive

Roundel

ROUNDEL by WILFRED OWEN In Shrewsbury Town e'en Hercules wox tired, Tired of the streets that end not up nor down; Tired of the Quarry, though seats may be hired Of Shrewsbury Town. Tired of the tongues that knew not his renown; Tired of the Quarry Bye-Laws, so admired By the Salopian, the somnambulant clown. Weak as a babe, and in like wise attired, He leaned upon his club; frowned a last frown, And of ineffable boredom, so expired In Shrewsbury Town.

Citation

“Roundel,” 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 4, 2024, http://ww1lit.nsms.ox.ac.uk/ww1lit/collections/item/3342.

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