1. SUICIDE IN THE TRENCHES
Siegfried Sassoon

2. I knew a simple soldier boy
Who grinned at life in empty joy,
Slept soundly through the lonesome dark,
And whistled early with the lark

3. 1. Write down three things the soldier boy did (lines1-4).
He grins at life
Sleeps soundly through the night
Whistles with the morning songbird

4. In winter trenches, cowed and glum
With crumps and lice and lack of rum,
He put a bullet through his brain.
No one spoke of him again.

5. 2. What is the meaning of “cowed”?
Sitting in fear,

6. 3. What is the meaning of “glum”?
Extremely unhappy

7. 4. What is the meaning of “crumps”?
Sound of exploding bomb

8. 5. What else did the young soldier suffer from?
Lice
Lack of rum

9. You smug-faced crowds with kindling eye
Who cheer when soldier lads march by
Sneak home and pray you’ll never know
The hell where youth and laughter go.

10. 6. What is the meaning of “smug-faced”?
Satisfied expression

11. 7. What is war like for this poet?
Hell