Sassoon, Siegfried, Poem, 10 August 1918

Poem, Siegfried Sassoon dated 10 August 1918.
Description: 
Manuscript of poem "Great Men" by Siegfried Sassoon

Tabs

Case Study: 
The Great Ones and the Great War: Siegfried Sassoon’s Bitter Poem, “Great Men”
Creator: 
Sassoon, Siegfried
Source: 
poem
Date: 
10 August 1918
Collection/Fonds: 
Contributer: 
McMaster University Libraries
Rights: 
Copyright Siegfried Sassoon by kind permission of the Estate of George Sassoon

Identifier: 
00001578
Language: 
eng
Type: 
image
Format: 
jpg
Transcript: 

Great Men [title has been changed from "To the Great Ones"]
The great ones of the earth
Approve, with smiles and bland salutes, the rage
And monstrous tyranny they have brought to birth.
The great ones of the earth
Are much concerned about the wars they wage,
And quite aware of what those wars are worth.
You Marshals, gilt and red,
You Ministers, and Princes, and Great Men,
Why can't you keep your mouthings for the dead?
Go round the simple Cemeteries; and then
Talk of our noble sacrifice and losses
To the wooden crosses.
Siegfried Sassoon