‘To Senegalese sharpshooters who died for France‘, No Glory in War 1914-1918
Senghor, one of Africa’s most noted poets and statesmen, wrote this poem in 1938-40. It is included here for three reasons: to remind us that in the Great War there were soldiers from dozens of countries (there were Senegalese soldiers at Gallipoli), to encourage comparisons with the position of, for example, Indian soldiers in Empire forces, and to link to the wonderful war poetry and music resources collected on the website of the No Glory in War collective.
Perhaps the poem also underlines the commonality of soldiers and of the impacts of their service on their families. The poem is in French but a translation is provided.