First World War Poetry Digital Archive

Schoolmistress

SCHOOLMISTRESS by WILFRED OWEN Having, with bold Horatius, stamped her feet And waved a final swashing arabesque O'er the brave days of old, she ceased to bleat, Slapped her Macaulay back upon the desk, Resumed her calm gaze and her lofty seat. There, while she heard the classic lines repeat, Once more the teacher's face clenched stern; For through the window, looking on the street, Three soldiers hailed her. She made no return. One was called 'Orace whom she would not greet.

Citation

“Schoolmistress,” 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 April 23, 2024, http://ww1lit.nsms.ox.ac.uk/ww1lit/collections/item/3343.

Permitted Use

This item is available for non-commercial educational use under the terms of the Jisc Model Licence. Further details available at: http://ww1lit.nsms.ox.ac.uk/ww1lit/permitteduse