Charles Sorley

Captain Charles Hamilton Sorley (19 May 1895 – 13 October 1915) was a Scottish British Army officer and war poet who fought in the First World War. He was killed in action during the Battle of Loos in October 1915.

Quotes

• We have the evil spirits too
  That shake our soul with battle-din.
  But we have an eviller spirit than you,
  We have a dumb spirit within:
  The exceeding bitter agony
  But not the exceeding bitter cry.
  • "To Poets", in Marlborough, &c. (1916), p. 45

• We swing ungirded hips,
  And lightened are our eyes.
  The rain is on our lips,
  We do not run for prize.
  • "The Song of the Ungirt Runners", in Marlborough, &c. (1916), p. 40

• And we run because we like it
  Through the broad bright land.
  • "The Song of the Ungirt Runners", in Marlborough, &c. (1916), p. 41