This was one of my favorite poems growing up and one of my favorites from the WWI warrior poets. It was a favorite of President Kennedys as well and he would have his wife recite it to him all the time. Written by Alan Seegar, an American serving in the French Foreign Legion during the First World War before the American entry into the conflict. He was killed in action July 4, 1916 (kind of ironic) during the Battle of the Somme. While engaged in a successful attack to take an enemy position he was hit by machine gun fire and killed. Here is the poem. I Have a Rendezvous with Death I HAVE a rendezvous with Death At some disputed barricade, When Spring comes back with rustling shade And apple-blossoms fill the air— I have a rendezvous with Death When Spring brings back blue days and fair. It may be he shall take my hand And lead me into his dark land And close my eyes and quench my breath— It may be I shall pass him still. I have a rendezvous with Death On some scarred slope of battered hill, When Spring comes round again this year And the first meadow-flowers appear. God knows twere better to be deep Pillowed in silk and scented down, Where love throbs out in blissful sleep, Pulse nigh to pulse, and breath to breath, Where hushed awakenings are dear... But Ive a rendezvous with Death At midnight in some flaming town, When Spring trips north again this year, And I to my pledged word am true, I shall not fail that rendezvous.
Posted on: Tue, 25 Mar 2014 02:40:58 +0000