"The Next War" is a poem by Wilfred Owen. It was written in late September 1917, and revised in July 1918. It is no. 160 in The Complete Poems and Fragments. The poem is among those set in the War Requiem of Benjamin Britten.
"The Next War"
Context: Oh, Death was never enemy of ours!
We laughed at him, we leagued with him, old chum.
No soldier's paid to kick against His powers.
We laughed, — knowing that better men would come,
And greater wars: when each proud fighter brags
He wars on Death, for lives; not men, for flags.
“Oh, Death was never enemy of ours!”
"The Next War"
Context: Oh, Death was never enemy of ours!
We laughed at him, we leagued with him, old chum.
No soldier's paid to kick against His powers.
We laughed, — knowing that better men would come,
And greater wars: when each proud fighter brags
He wars on Death, for lives; not men, for flags.
