The Battle

From the Albuquerque Morning Journal, June 15, 1915. By Wilfred Wilson Gibson.

All day beneath the hurtling shells
    Before my burning eyes
Hover the dainty demoiselles—
    The peacock dragon flies.

Unceasingly they dart and glance
    Above the stagnant stream—
And I am fighting here in France
    As in a senseless dream—

A dream of shattering black shells
    That hurtle overhead,
And dainty dancing demoiselles
    Above the dreamless dead.