The Kiss

To these I turn, in these I trust-
Brother Lead and Sister Steel.
To his blind power I make appeal,
I guard her beauty clean from rust.

He spins and burns and loves the air,
and splits a skull to win my praise;
But up the nobly marching days
She glitters naked, cold and fair.

Sweet Sister grant your soldier this:
That in good fury he may feel
The body where he sets his heel
Quail from your downward darting kiss.

Flixecour, 25 April 1916
Siegfried Sassoon

A famous scotch Major lectured on the bayonet. "The bayonet and the bullet are brother and sister"

Nigel