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