"Conscripts," Siegfried Sassoon

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Conscripts

Fall in, that awkward squad, and strike no more

Attractive attitudes! Dress by the right!

The luminous rich colours that you wore

Have changed to hueless khaki in the night.

Magic? What's magic got to do with you?

There's no such thing! Blood's red, and skies are blue.'

They gasped and sweated, marching up and down.
I drilled them till they cursed my raucous shout.
Love chucked his lute away and dropped his crown.
Rhyme got sore heels and wanted to fall out.
'Left, right! Press o...