В роки Великої війни сер Уільям Орпен (William Orpen) був одним із офіційних художників британської армії. Йому належить більше 130 робіт, серед яких більшість - портрети офіцерів та генералів британської армії, а також місця їх битв. Тут зібрані деякі з них разом з віршами, які автор написав після побаченого на Соммі та Іпрі.
A memory of the Somme
A fair Spring morning – not a living soul is near
Far Far away I hear the faint grumble of the guns.
The Battle has passed long since, all is Peace.
Sometimes there is the hum of aeroplanes as they pass overhead, Amber specks high up in the blue.
Occasionally there is the movement of a rat in the old battered trench on which I sit – still in the confusion of which it was left.
The sun is baking hot, strange odours come from the door of a dug-out with its endless steps running down into blackness.
The land is white – dazzling.
The distance is all shimmering in heat.
A few little spring flowers have forced their way through the chalk.
He lies a few yards in front of the trench, we are quite alone.
He makes me feel awed and small and ashamed
He has been there a long long time.
Hundreds of eyes have seen him.
Hundreds of bodies have felt faint and sick because of him.
This place was Hell.
But now all is peace – the sun has made him Holy and Pure.
He and his garments are bleached pale and clean.
A daffodil is by his head and his golden curly hair is moving in the slight breeze.
He, the man who died in “No Man’s Land” doing some great act of bravery for his comrades and country.
Here he lies – Holy and Pure, his face upward turned.
No earth between him and his maker.
I have no right to be so near.
Mud
Everywhere –
Nothing but mud.
The very air seems thick with it,
The few tufts of grass are all smeared with it –
Mud!
The Church a heap of it;
One look, and weep for it.
That’s what they’ve made of it –
Mud!
Slimy and wet,
Churned and upset;
Here Bones that once mattered
With crosses lie scattered,
Broken and battered,
Covered in mud,
Here, where the Church’s bell
Tolled when our heroes fell
In that mad start of hell –
Mud!
That’s all that’s left of it – mud!
