Robert Nichols
Now that I am ta’en away
And may not see another day
What is it to my eye appears?
What sound rings in my stricken ears?
Not even the voice of any friend
Or eyes beloved-world-without-end,
But scenes and sounds of the country-side
In far England across the tide:
An upland field when spring’s begun,
Mellow beneath the evening sun….
A circle of loose and lichened wall
Over which seven red pines fall….
An orchard of wizen blossoming trees
Wherein the nesting chaffinches
Begin again the self-same song
All the late April day-time long….
Paths that lead a shelving course
Between the chalk scarp and the gorse
By English downs; and oh! too well
I hear the hidden, clanking bell
Of wandering sheep…. I see the brown
Twilight of the huge, empty down
Soon blotted out! for now a lane
Glitters with warmth of May-time rain.
And on a shooting briar I see
A yellow bird who sings to me.
O yellow-hammer, once I heard
Thy yaffle when no other bird
Could to my sunk heart comfort bring;
But now I could not have thee sing
So sharp thy note is with the pain
Of England I may not see again!
Yet sing thy song: there answereth
Deep in me a voice which saith:
“The gorse upon the twilit down,
The English loam so sunset brown,
The bowed pines and the sheep-bells’ clamour,
The wet, lit lane and the yellow-hammer,
The orchard and the chaffinch song
Only to the Brave belong.
And he shall lose their joy for aye
If their price he cannot pay.
Who shall find them dearer far
Enriched by blood alter long war.”
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Analysis (AI Assisted)
This poem is a poignant reflection on the power of memory and the bittersweet connection between sacrifice and the beauty of one’s homeland. Written from the perspective of a soldier facing death, the speaker’s words are infused with a longing for England’s countryside, which becomes a sanctuary of the mind amidst the chaos and pain of war.
The imagery is deeply personal and specific, capturing the essence of rural England with its “upland fields,” “wizen blossoming trees,” and “paths… between the chalk scarp and the gorse.” These details create a vivid picture of a place the speaker holds dear, a place that represents not just home but also a sense of peace and permanence. In juxtaposition to the violence of war, these scenes of natural beauty become almost otherworldly, a dreamlike solace for a life soon to be extinguished.
The yellow-hammer, a recurring symbol in the poem, is particularly striking. Its song, once a source of comfort, now carries an unbearable sharpness, reminding the speaker of all he is losing. The bird’s cry bridges the gap between the past and the present, a painful yet cherished reminder of England and the life left behind. Yet, the speaker resolves that the yellow-hammer should continue its song, even if it evokes sorrow—a testament to the enduring pull of memory and the unyielding bond to home.
As the poem nears its conclusion, the tone shifts to a resigned acceptance of sacrifice. The voice within the speaker—perhaps his own conscience, or a greater spiritual understanding—reminds him that the beauty of England is “Only to the Brave.” This statement is a profound acknowledgment of the soldier’s role: to preserve the land and its joys for others, even at the ultimate cost. The price of war is steep, but the speaker seems to find solace in the notion that the blood spilled enriches the land he loves, endowing it with even greater meaning.
The poem’s strength lies in its ability to capture both the intimate and the universal. While deeply personal, rooted in the speaker’s memories, it also speaks to a broader experience of loss, duty, and love for one’s homeland. The imagery is simple yet evocative, the emotions raw yet restrained, creating a balance between grief and reverence.
Ultimately, this is a meditation on what it means to belong—to a place, to a community, and to an ideal worth defending. The speaker’s connection to England, and his willingness to pay the price for its continued beauty, transforms his sacrifice into something transcendent. The poem leaves a lingering sense of both sorrow and gratitude, reminding us of the profound sacrifices made in the name of love and duty.