Edward Thomas is less well known than Wilfred Owen but no less a poet. He also died in the war. Starting out in the ranks, Thomas was commissioned in 1916, and killed by a shell blast at Arras on April 9th, 1917. Although he survived the actual battle, he was killed by the concussive blast wave of one of the last shells fired as he stood to light his pipe. Thomas was survived by his wife, Helen, his son Merfyn and his two daughters Bronwen and Myfanwy. Below is a moving poem written to his wife. I couldn’t think of a better to way to celebrate National Poetry Day than pay tribute to this courageous and compassionate man.
AND YOU, HELEN
And you, Helen, what should I give you?
So many things I would give you
Had I an infinite great store
Offered me and I stood before
To choose. I would give you youth,
All kinds of loveliness and truth,
A clear eye as good as mine,
Lands, waters, flowers, wine,
As many children as your heart
Might wish for, a far better art
Than mine can be, all you have lost
Upon the travelling waters tossed,
Or given to me. If I could choose
Freely in that great treasure-house
Anything from any shelf,
I would give you back yourself,
And power to discriminate
What you want and want it not too late,
Many fair days free from care
And heart to enjoy both foul and fair,
And myself, too, if I could find
Where it lay hidden and it proved kind.
Related articles
- Edward Thomas: Selected Poems, Edited by Matthew Hollis
- Why Poetry Matters to Me
- Poetry – the last thing on our minds
- The Compass of Compassion
