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Canteen lady of the battle fields of war

Poem of the early 1950's by Roger Descombes of eighteen lines in length describing a canteen attendant on a battlefield whose fate will be to watch her men die in the war.The print of 1968 of a woman weeping with warriors reminds us of Goya.
Translation into English by Louise, 2012.


Canteen lady of the battle fields

Weep, canteen girl

Proud that you are

As

One and all leave to make themselves dust

Oh sorrows of war !

Oh joys of the spoils and revelry !

Cursed hour!

When at once annihilation and life meet and hang only by a thread

As does that touching your own son

Away

And that of your lovers

Gone far away.

Roger Descombes