posted on 2024-04-19, 17:44authored byFirst World War Poetry Digital Archive Project Team
<p dir="ltr"> Not this week nor this month dare I lie down<br> In languor under lime trees or smooth smile.<br> Love must not kiss my face pale that is brown.<br> My lips, panting, shall drink space, mile by mile;<br> Strong meats by all my hunger; my renown<br> Be the clean beauty of speed and pride of style.<br> Cold winds encountered on the racing Down<br> Shall thrill my heated bareness; but awhile<br> None else may meet me till I wear my crown.</p>
The Estate of Wilfred Owen. The Complete Poems and Fragments of Wilfred Owen edited by Jon Stallworthy first published by Chatto & Windus, 1983. Preliminaries, introductory, editorial matter, manuscripts and fragments omitted.