Sonnet: On seeing a piece of our heavy artillery brought into action (James Crawford)

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  • (Posted 2020-01-02)  CPDL #56498:       
Editor: James Crawford (submitted 2020-01-02).   Score information: A4, 4 pages, 92 kB   Copyright: CC BY NC ND
Edition notes:

General Information

Title: Sonnet: On seeing a piece of our heavy artillery brought into action.
Composer: James Crawford
Lyricist: Wilfred Owen

Number of voices: 1v   Voicing: B
Genre: SecularArt song

Language: English
Instruments: Piano

First published: 2020
Description: "Sonnet: Heavy Artillery..." is the second song in a collection of seven songs based upon the poems of Wilfred Owen. It may serve as part of a Remembrance Day event, or a recital or competition. This song would perhaps best suit a baritone voice. This collection is not necessarily intended to be sung as a cycle.

External websites:

Original text and translations

English.png English text

Be slowly lifted up, thou long black arm,
Great Gun towering towards Heaven, about to curse;
Sway steep against them, and for years rehearse
Huge imprecations like a blasting charm!
Reach at that Arrogance which needs thy harm,
And beat it down before its sins grow worse.
Spend our resentment, cannon,-yea, disburse
Our gold in shapes of flame, our breaths in storm.

Yet, for men's sakes whom thy vast malison
Must wither innocent of enmity,
Be not withdrawn, dark arm, thy spoilure done,
Safe to the bosom of our prosperity.
But when thy spell be cast complete and whole,
May God curse thee, and cut thee from our soul!