New Year's Eve

Aveluy and New Year's eve, and the time as tender As if green buds grew. In the low West a slender Streak of last orange. Guns mostly deadest still. And a noise of limbers near, coming down the hill. Nothing doing, nothing doing, and a screed to write, Candles enough for books, a sleepy delight In the warm dugout, day ended. Nine hours to the light. There now and then now, one nestled down snug, A head is enough to read by, and cover up with a rug. Electric. Clarinet sang of a Hundred Pipers (And hush-awe mystery vanishes like tapers Of tobacco smoke,) there was a great hilarity then! Breath and a queer tube magicked sorrow from men. Here was no soul's cheat, friends were of love over there How past thought, returning sweet! yet the soldier must dare.