XXII

 

Johnnie ta biok ezkondu giñan. Astebeteko guda

Ingeleterrak zeraman eta gizon guztiak

Guda jantziekin, ingelesak dakiten bezela,

Oargabe. Percy, ezkon laguna,

Papera bezin meea ta guztiz estimetxa,

Laburketa arrigarriarekin agur esan da,

Elizatik zuzenean trenera, inpernuko trena;

Eta il egin zan— obusetik laguna salbatuaz.

 

 

 

XXII

Johnnie and I were married. England then / Had been a week at war, and all the men / Wore uniform, as English people can, / Unconscious of it. Percy, the best man, / As thin as paper and as smart as paint, / Bade us good-bye with admirable restraint, / Went from the church to catch his train to hell / And died—saving his batman from a shell.