I am banished from the patient men who fight. They smote…
““I am banished from the patient men who fight. They smote my heart to pity, built my pride. Shoulder to aching shoulder, side by side, They trudged away from life's broad wealds of light. Their wrongs were mine; and ever in my sight They went arrayed in honour. But they died,-- Not one by one: and mutinous I cried To those who sent them out into the night. The darkness tells how vainly I have striven To free them from the pit where they must dwell In outcast gloom convulsed and jagged and riven By grappling guns. Love drove me to rebel. Love drives me back to grope with them through hell; And in their tortured eyes I stand forgiven.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
A soldier feels guilt for surviving while comrades die, questioning honor and love’s drive to rebel against war’s darkness.
In simple terms: Survivor guilt and love clash in war.
Key Takeaway
Acknowledge pain, seek peace.
Themes
guilt
war
honor
love
rebellion
Mood
somber
reflective
Type
poetic
historical
When to use this quote
- battlefield
- post‑war reflection
- memorial services
- mental health counseling
Key Concepts
survivor guilt
moral conflict
heroism
Questions to Reflect On
- How does love justify rebellion?
- Can honor exist without loss?
A Different Perspective
War’s chaos can’t be fully reconciled by personal sacrifice.