Right before the start of World War I, Sassoon decided to join the military–as a result of this bad timing, Sassoon gradually lost his patriotism and mocked his own naivety that brought him to war (not unlike fellow war poet Wilfred Owen). Around 1917, he decided to write a poem that mocked the beli...
Does it matter?—losing your legs?...
For people will always be kind,
And you need not show that you mind
When the others come in after hunting
To gobble their muffins and eggs.
Does it matter?—losing your sight?
There's such splendid work for the blind;
And people will always be kind,
As you sit on the terrace remembering
And turning your face to the light.
Does it matter?—those dreams from the pit?
You can drink and forget and be glad,
And people won't say that you're mad;
For they'll know you've fought for your country
And no one will worry a bit.