The Investiture

Read 'The Investiture' by 'Siegfried Sassoon' and provide your summary and literary analysis in the comments section below.

The Investiture by Siegfried Sassoon

 GOD with a Roll of Honour in His hand 
Sits welcoming the heroes who have died, 
While sorrowless angels ranked on either side 
Stand easy in Elysium’s meadow-land. 
Then you come shyly through the garden gate,
Wearing a blood-soaked bandage on your head; 
And God says something kind because you’re dead, 
And homesick, discontented with your fate. 

If I were there we’d snowball Death with skulls; 
Or ride away to hunt in Devil’s Wood
With ghosts of puppies that we walked of old. 
But you’re alone; and solitude annuls 
Our earthly jokes; and strangely wise and good 
You roam forlorn along the streets of gold.

Form: Italian Sonnet Comments

Comments About This Poem

Share your interpretation, favorite passage, or thoughts about this famous poem. Please provide an in-depth and meaningful comment.

  • What do you think the poet was trying to say?
  • Which line had the biggest impact on you?
  • How does this poem relate to modern life?
  • What literary devices did you notice?
No comments have been posted yet. Be the first to share your thoughts.
Get a Premium Membership
Turn off ads, get more exposure for your poetry, and get more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Diverse Voices: The Poetry of Human Rights and the Pursuit of Peace