With thanks to WW1 Digger Stories and Pamela Blevins on Twitter for their help in trying to find the identity of the author of this poem and to Cathy Sedgwick who found several other poems with the same title that were published during WW1
Australian soldier Ernest William Wood joined the army at the age of 19. He fought in Northern France and Belgium. On 20th October 1917 he was wounded at Broodseinde. Ernest survived the war and died in 1963. Some of his personal possessions can be seen at the Australian country show. (collection MMP1917, MZ 06807)
The poem, entitled "Sursum Corda" was written by someone with the initials V.M. It was published in the Brisbane, Australia newspaper “The Week” on 27th July 1917 – page 17. It was also published in the "Brisbane Telegraph" on Wednesday, 25th July 1917 on page 8.
I found several poems with the same title published pre WW1 – the most famous arguably being by American poet and writer Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 – 1882). From “The Complete Works. 1904. Vol. IX. Poems”
“Sursum Corda” by Ralph Waldo Emerson
Seek not the Spirit, if it hide,
Inexorable to thy zeal:
Baby, do not whine and chide;
Art thou not also real?
Why should'st thou stoop to poor excuse?
Turn on the Accuser roundly; say,
"Here am I, here will I remain
Forever to myself soothfast,
Go thou, sweet Heaven, or, at thy pleasure stay."—
Already Heaven with thee its lot has cast,
For it only can absolutely deal.
https://www.bartleby.com/370/30.html
I asked my friend Cathy Sedgwick in Australia if she had any idea who V M might be and she sent me the following information about two more poems with the same title published during the First World War in Australian newspapers.
Note from Cathy Sedgwick – another poem with that same title was publsihed in the Inglewood Advertiser (Vic.: 1914 - 1918) on Fri 7 Jan 1916, Page 3: "Sursum Corda" by F.E.H.
And another of the same title was published in the “Clarence and Richmond Examiner” (Grafton, NSW : 1889 - 1915) Sat 14 Sep 1907, Page 12: "Sursum Corda" by Father Ryan previously published in the “Catholic Press”. .
*Sursum Corda – Translation: “Lift up your hearts.” This is the opening phrase of a traditional Christian liturgy dating back to the 3rd century. It is normally used before celebrating the Eucharist during Communion or Mass. There are quite a few poems with the same title, the most famous perhaps being by Ralph Waldo Emerson.
