Tuesday, 13 January 2015

Poem ~ Red Bombs - Wednesday, 13 January 1915


Dr Dastre of Academy of Sciences, France,
Issued a statement, on 12 January 1915,
To announce how the Germans had started,
To utilize red phosphorus in their projectiles.

A depth of crimson that comes from burst -
By the fact of the elements oxygen exposure -
Serves to provide the German gunners views
Of a marker, as where the missile has hit.

Dr Dastre stated by this chemical additive,
Adds a new violation of the law of Nations -
This is from the fact that these busting shell's
Cloud consumes only part of red phosphorus.

Significant fractions were found to adhere,
To fragments of the shell and shrapnel shards-
Any wounds to soldiers hit by fragments,
Would result in deadly, vicious poisoning.

The usage for oil of turpentine - known as
Terebenthene - to apply against phosphorus
Poisoning has no effective therapy or cure.
Thus red phosphorus adds extra danger -
As in origins of its Latin name 'Lucifer.'

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1915. Poisonous Shells. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 13 Jan. P.11. Col.3. Available at:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11336435/Daily-Telegraph-January-13-1915.html [Accessed: 13 January 2015].

Mann, J., 2015. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 13 January 2015). 



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