A War Miniature

To Miss Cecily Allen. From Richard OReilly. November 21st,

1917
Papa OReillys first-born, favourite son
Sat for the Crown Exams, was sent to London.
Dear Father, he wrote from Heywards, all is well,
Our rooms are vast and sunlit! You can tell
The Dublin men like me from all the rest:
Church-going, homesick, on for a laugh, hard pressed
To understand this war against the Hun.
Greet Mamma for me. Ever, your loving son.
This was my great-uncle Richard, more-or-less,
Until some girl left a feather upon his desk
And shamed him stupidly into the mud and pain,
Dreaming of her and of Canada. All in vain:
His postcard reached her empty hands too late
And left his undone father disconsolate.