A Dirge Of Victory (Sonnet)

 Lift not thy trumpet¹, Victory, to the sky,

  Nor through battalions² nor by batteries blow,

  But over hollows full of old wire go,

Where among dregs of war the long-dead lie

With wasted iron that the guns passed by.

  When they went eastwards³ like a tide at flow;

  There blow thy trumpet that the dead may know,

Who waited for thy coming, Victory.

 

It is not we that have deserved thy wreath,

  They waited there among the towering weeds.

The deep mud burned under the thermite's breath,

  And winter cracked the bones that no man heeds⁴:

Hundreds of nights flamed by: the seasons passed.

And thou last come to them at last, at last!

1 trumpet   

n.喇叭，喇叭声；v.吹喇叭，吹嘘

参考例句：

• He plays the violin, but I play the trumpet.他拉提琴，我吹喇叭。
• The trumpet sounded for battle.战斗的号角吹响了。

2 battalions   

n.（陆军的）一营（大约有一千兵士）( battalion的名词复数 )；协同作战的部队；军队；（组织在一起工作的）队伍

参考例句：

• God is always on the side of the strongest battalions. 上帝总是帮助强者。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Two battalions were disposed for an attack on the air base. 配置两个营的兵力进攻空军基地。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

3 eastwards   

adj.向东方（的），朝东（的）；n.向东的方向

参考例句：

• The current sets strongly eastwards.急流迅猛东去。
• The Changjiang River rolls on eastwards.长江滚滚向东流。

4 heeds   

n.留心，注意，听从( heed的名词复数 )v.听某人的劝告，听从( heed的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• You should never fight the band that heeds you. 从来不要攻击那些注意你行动的帮伙们。 来自互联网
• He who ignores discipline and shame, but whoever heeds correction is honored. 弃绝管教的、必致贫受辱．领受责备的、必得尊荣。 来自互联网