Rupert Brooke (1887-1915)
1914 II. Safety
1Dear! of all happy in the hour, most blest
2 He who has found our hid security,
3Assured in the dark tides of the world that rest,
4 And heard our word, 'Who is so safe as we?'
5We have found safety with all things undying,
6 The winds, and morning, tears of men and mirth,
7The deep night, and birds singing, and clouds flying,
8 And sleep, and freedom, and the autumnal earth.
9We have built a house that is not for Time's throwing.
10 We have gained a peace unshaken by pain for ever.
11War knows no power. Safe shall be my going,
12 Secretly armed against all death's endeavour;
13Safe though all safety's lost; safe where men fall;
14And if these poor limbs die, safest of all.
Online text copyright © 2009, Ian Lancashire (the Department of English) and the University of Toronto.
Published by the Web Development Group, Information Technology Services, University of Toronto Libraries.
Original text: Rupert Brooke, "1914" Five Sonnets (London: Sidgwick & Jackson, 1915). PR 6003 R4N5 1915b Robarts Library. See also Rupert Brooke, 1914 & Other Poems (London: Sidgwick & Jackson, 1915): 12. PR 6003 R4N5 Robarts Library.
First publication date:
1915
Publication date note: New Numbers (1915)
RPO poem editor: Ian Lancashire
RP edition: RPO 1999.
Recent editing: 2:2001/11/15
Composition date:
1914
Form: sonnet
Rhyme: ababcdcd efefgg
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