A treasury of war poetry, British and American poems of the world war, 1914-1919/Searchlights

by Paul Bewsher

SEARCHLIGHTS

YOU who have seen across the star-decked skies
The long white arms of searchlights slowly sweep,
Have you imagined what it is to creep
High in the darkness, cold and terror-wise,
For ever looked for by those cruel eyes
Which search with far-flung beams the shadowy deep,
And near the wings unending vigil keep
To haunt the lonely airman as he flies?

Have you imagined what it is to know
That if one finds you, all their fierce desire
To see you fall will dog you as you go,
High in a sea of light and bursting fire,
Like some small bird, lit up and blinding white
Which slowly moves across the shell-torn night?

Paul Bewsher