Rememberance Day 11/11/2008

They are lovely poems Wolf. So sad that we are losing a new generation to war now.

My father-in-law managed to survive the whole of the 2nd World War in the army. He was in the Eighth Army fighting Rommel's army in the desert and then he marched across Europe as part of the liberators and ended up in Italy at the end of the war. Terry said he saw some terrible sights at the concentration camps and never wanted to talk about his war experience especially as he lost most of his friends. Terry is very proud of him. He died nearly 20 years ago and i never met him. My mother-in-law was in the Land Army. My own parents were too young to be in the services in the war although my mother has great stories of life in those war years. My step father was in the navy in the war.

It is important to tell our children so that the sacrifice is never forgotten.

Rememberance Day is something I will never forget as long as I live. I remember going to the war memorial services with my grandparents when I was very young and proudly wearing a poppy.

The Ode

FOR THE FALLEN     by   Laurence Binyon

With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children
England mourns for her dead across the sea,
Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,
Fallen in the cause of the free.

Solemn the drums thrill: Death august and royal
Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres,
There is music in the midst of desolation
And glory that shines upon our tears.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eyes, steady and aglow,
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

They mingle not with their laughing comrades again,
They sit no more at familiar tables of home,
They have no lot in our labour of the daytime,
They sleep beyond England’s foam.

But where our desires and hopes profound,
Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,
To the innermost heart of their own land they are known
As the stars are known to the night.

As the stars shall be bright when we are dust,
Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain,
As the stars that are stary in the time of our darkness,
To the end, to the end, they remain.

I chose not to post this in the regular poetry segment.

November 11.

The day each year is the eleventh of November

On which we pause, reflect, and remember

The sacrifice made by so many for so few

And our vow to prevent wars we renew

We forget not one who fell in his trench

With the smell of the dying and stench

Of  decay…………..

Oh, God, why were they sent to their private hell

How they suffered, no one can tell

In countries that were not of their birth

Many were buried beneath hostile earth

Others to suffer deprivation and despair

Yet no politician could offer a single prayer

To ask that the suffering and misery could end

They selfishly chose to pretend

That those valiant warriors did not die in vain

Yet another war starts again and again

And at the end of each New Year

We once again shed a tear

And wear a poppy to represent blood

That was spilled in a far off land

“Let it stop”

Is the universal cry

But it seems their is none willing to try

All we can do is say a prayer of our own

To ask that the souls of the fallen rest not alone

And remain forever in God’s loving hands

A prayer for peace throughout all lands

(No copyright!)

If I offended anyone by requesting that Copyright be observed regarding my poetry I apologise.  To simplfy my statement, I suggested that my words should not be used to  benefit (usually financial) another (copyright law).If I choose to share my poetry with my friends, including POE, then that is my pregrogative.

I believe the matter of offensive wording at these forums was recently discussed, and where it was acceptable for one to, within reason, speak his/her mind.

I have simply done just that. Ialso believe that if anyone finds my request unreasonable they not post their objection in this public forum; rather, they should email me privately where the matter can be discussed amicably

My reference to the subject of naming poets was purely in order for the  reader to access the author.

It is, I believe, Mary Frye wrote the untitled poem beginning **Do not stand on my grave and weep**

Rudyard Kipling wrote the poem (1914-1918) whose first line reads **The Garden called Gethsemane**

I hope I speak for all when I say that we honor your request to Copyright your poetry. We are so very happy that you are here to share it with your POE family and would never dream of taking offence.

You poem above is beautiful. I have a very soft spot for war poetry.