Poem of the Day 6: She who has not died

She who has not died (1914)

Edward Słoński

 

 1
My brother, we are divided
by ill-fate and a guard:
behind two hostile ramparts
our death is our reward.
In groaning trenches we listen
to the thunder of guns:
I, your enemy, you, my enemy,
we face each other once.
The forest weeps, the earth weeps,
the whole world trembles on high.
Behind two hostile ramparts
we stand, you and I.

2
As soon as the guns begin
to roar in the dawn,
through the whistling bullets of death
your sign has always shone.
You throw at our low ramparts
your whole artillery
and you call and you speak to me:
“Brother, it is I.”
The forest weeps, the earth weeps,
the whole world trembles on high,
and all the time you say to me
“Brother, it is I.”

3
Don’t think of me, my brother,
as I march to my death:
in the fire of my bullets stand bravely
and take a deep breath.
And when you see me from afar
fire at me instead:
into a Polish heart
aim Russian lead.
For I dream of her by day
and see her in my dreams:
She who has not died
will rise where our blood screams.

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I couldn't find a website with this poem so I had to copy and paste it here.

This poem has a whole lot to deal with death and that in part makes the poem really intense.

Did I enjoy the poem? Yes, I think I did? I really don't know because it was really confusing at parts.

I just know that it's about death... and guns? Who knew this poem could be highly control by such a death when she might not be dead... but she may be dead? Yea... you just gotta read the poem yourself to figure it out.