Poem - "The Kiss" by Siegfried Sassoon

"The Kiss" 
by Siegfried Sassoon


To these I turn, in these I trust;

Brother Lead and Sister Steel.
To his blind power I make appeal;
I guard her beauty clean from rust.

He spins and burns and loves the air,

And splits a skull to win my praise;
But up the nobly marching days
She glitters naked, cold and fair.

Sweet Sister, grant your soldier this;

That in good fury he may feel
The body where he sets his heel
Quail from your downward darting kiss.