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The Pity Of War (2015)

by Thomas Oboe Lee

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1.
What passing-bells for these who die as cattle? Only the monstrous anger of the guns. Only the stuttering rifle’s rapid rattle Can patter out their hasty orisons. No mockeries now for them; no prayers nor bells, Nor any voice of mourning save the choirs, _____ The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells; And bugles calling for them from sad shires. What candles may be held to speed them all? Not in the hands of boys, but in their eyes Shall shine the holy glimmers of good-byes. The pallor of girls’ brows shall be their pall; Their flowers the tenderness of patient minds, And each slow dusk a drawing-down of blinds.
2.
Sing me at morn but only with your laugh; Even as Spring that laugheth into leaf; Even as Love that laugheth after Life. Sing me but only with your speech all day, As voluble leaflets do; let viols die; The least word of your lips is melody! Sing me at eve but only with your sigh! Like lifting seas it solaceth; breathe so, Slowly and low, the sense that no songs say. Sing me at midnight with your murmuring heart! Let youth’s immortal-moaning chords be heard Throbbing through you, and sobbing, unsubdued.
3.
‘O Jesus Christ! I’m hit,’ he said; and died. Whether he vainly cursed, or prayed indeed, the Bullets chirped___ In vain! Vain! Vain! Machine-guns chuckled,___ Tut-tut! Tut-tut! And the Big Gun guffawed. Another sighed, ____ ‘O Mother, mother! Dad!’ Then smiled, at nothing, childlike, being dead. And the lofty Shrapnel-cloud leisurely gestured,____ Fool! And the falling splinters tittered. ‘My Love!’ one moaned. Love-languid seemed his mood, till, slowly lowered, his whole face kissed the mud. And the Bayonets’ long teeth grinned; Rabbles of Shells hooted and groaned; And the Gas hissed.
4.
“Jack fell as he’d have wished,” the Mother said, And folded up the letter that she’d read. “The Colonel writes so nicely.” Something broke In the tired voice that quavered to a choke. She half looked up. “We mothers are so proud Of our dead soldiers.” Then her face was bowed. Quietly the Brother Officer went out. He’d told the poor dear some gallant lies That she would nourish all her days, no doubt. For while he coughed and mumbled, her weak eyes Had shone with gentle triumph, brimmed with joy, Because he’s been so brave, her glorious boy. He thought how “Jack,” cold-footed, useless swine, Had panicked down the trench that night the mine Went up at Wicked Corner; how he tried To get sent home; and how, at last, he died, Blown to small bits. And no one seemed to care Except that lonely woman with white hair.
5.
“Good morning; good morning!” the General said when we met him last week on our way to the Line. Now the soldiers he smiled at are most of them dead, and we’re cursing his staff for incompetent swine. “He’s a cheery old card,” grunted Harry to Jack as they slogged up to Arras with rifle and pack. But he did for them both by his plan of attack.
6.
O may these days of pain, These wasted-seeming days, Somewhere reflower again With scent and savour of praise. Draw out of memory all bitterness of night with Thy Sun’s rays. And strengthen Thou in me the love of men here found. And eager charity, that, out of difficult ground spring like flowers in barren deserts, or like light, or lovely sound. A simpler heart than mine might have seen Beauty clear where I could see no sign of Thee, but only fear. Strengthen me, make me to see Thy Beauty always in every happening here.

about

In commemoration of the 100th anniversary of World War I (1914-1918), a song cycle of poems by veterans of the First World War: Wilfred Owen, Siegfried Sassoon and Ivor Gurney.

credits

released June 19, 2015

Tim Krol, baritone
Michael T .C. Hey, piano

Music by Thomas Oboe Lee
Poems by Wilfred Owen (1893 - 1918), Siegfried Sassoon (1886 - 1967), and Ivor Gurney (1890 - 1937), P.D.

Recorded on May 28, 2015
@ Soundworks Recording Studio, LLC
Kamilo Kratc, sound engineer and editor

© Departed Feathers Music, Inc. - BMI - 2015

Photo credit: Thomas Oboe Lee

YouTube link: youtu.be/OYVinHypCbw

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all rights reserved

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about

Thomas Oboe Lee Cambridge, Massachusetts

Thomas Oboe Lee was born in China in 1945. He lived in São Paulo, Brazil, for six years before coming to the United States in 1966. After graduating from the University of Pittsburgh, he studied composition at the New England Conservatory and Harvard University. He has been a member of the music faculty at Boston College since 1990. ... more

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