A Soldier’s Heartfelt Speech

This poem is been written from the controversial and famous letter of Siegfried Sassoon who In July of 1917, mid-World War I, following a period of convalescent leave during which he had decided to make a stand by not returning to duty

The Letter titled “Finished with the War: A Soldier’s Declaration”

He made his statement with an act

Of wilful defiance of military authority

For the ones who have deliberately prolonged the war

Are the ones who had the power to end it.

I am a soldier and am speaking

On the behalf of my brothers

The war upon which it was started

Was of defence and liberation.

But now it has prolonged

For aggression and conquest

I have seen and endured

The sufferings of the troops

And I believe it is pure evil and unjust

For prolonging the sufferings to the ends.

I protest against the conduct

Of war and the political errors

For which the fighting men are

Being undeniably sacrificed

And on behalf of those who are suffering now

I, the soldier humbly ask

To stop what was started

For it has changed the course of time…