The Last Laugh

 'O Jesus Christ! I'm hit,' he said; and died.
Whether he vainly cursed, or prayed indeed,
 The Bullets chirped - 'In vain! vain! vain!'
 Machine-guns chuckled, 'Tut-tut! Tut-tut!'
 And the Big Gun guffawed.


Another sighed, - 'O Mother, Mother! Dad!'
Then smiled, at nothing, childlike, being dead.
 And the lofty Shrapnel-cloud
 Leisurely gestured, - 'Fool!'
 And the falling splinters tittered.


'My Love!' one moaned. Love-languid seemed his mood,
Till, slowly lowered, his whole face kissed the mud.
 And the Bayonets' long teeth grinned;
 Rabbles of Shells hooted and groaned;
 And the Gas hissed.

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