Wilfred Owen

old lie dulce patria mori

“The old Lie:Dulce et decorum est

Pro patria mori.” ("It is sweet and glorious to die for one's country.")

― Wilfred Owen (1893-1918)

courage wisdom march citadel

“Courage was mine, and I had mystery,

Wisdom was mine, and I had mastery:

To miss the march of this retreating world

Into vain citadels that are not walled.”

― Wilfred Owen (1893-1918)

death enemy laugh power men flag

“Oh, Death was never enemy of ours!

We laughed at him, we leagued with him, old chum.

No soldier's paid to kick against His powers.

We laughed, — knowing that better men would come,

And greater wars: when each proud fighter brags

He wars on Death, for lives; not men, for flags.”

― Wilfred Owen (1893-1918)

jolt blood incurable innocent

“If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood

Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs

Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud

Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues,

My friend, you would not tell with such high zest

To children ardent for some desperate glory

That old lie: Dulce et decorum est

Pro patria mori.”

― Wilfred Owen (1893-1918)