You are the first poem in a book of Soldier Poets

Your poem was written by a Major in the British Expeditionary Force in France during the First World War

He is only known by his initials no more

H.D’A. B.

Marthe of the lowered eyes

This is how the poem opens

I wonder who Marthe was

Marthe of the pale pale face

Other poems written by the poet are harsher and more reflective of war

I particularly like Givenchy Field  

But you stand alone soft in the shadows away from the fear and carnage of those dreadful years

Caring for the fallen in your cloister-cell

Marthe of the heart of gold