How Many Men

An exercise in alliteration

How many men march, tramp

By the marshlight, tell tall tales

By the willow and pine,

Such fine pillow-wine caught in a light-

Ray, daylight catch-cry homeward sway,

Whisper in the wind, wash-whisper away.

 

How many mouths lie, make

Sigh-sound say, truth to tell

To who knows who?

So few listen, glisten-eye in the Moon-

Light, restless rove in the track black nights,

Sounds of the soldiers sadness sights!

 

David Lewis Paget

Reviews

[Marie]

An exercisein tongut twisting, I'd say. But beautiful to read aloud, if you can meet the challenge.

[Poeticpiers]

fine display of alliteration SirThe soothing sound of sibilants suggest that I should sleep

[Bubo]

What a stunning piece, the alliteration wonderful and the thought of all the men that
fought, died, my daddy who fought.........images that extend the thoughts well after the read.

[Misa]

An exercise in alliteration indeed, but moreover an effort in making the reader think. The words you chose here were, almost in their entirety, unique - "sigh-sound say" "Truth to tell" (l know the last one has been used before, but..), "catch cry" - from the beginning to end you gave me a bayou feeling, for some reason. the first line was a good hint, but you carried that through to the end easily, invoking provocative images with each line. Nice job.