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Open Poetry #49
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Redstart
Senior Member
since 2014-05-16
Posts 535


0 posted 2014-11-10 10:19 PM


Just another, shattered son
Of all the millions, he was one
Who lay there in that, cold French mud
Warmed beneath by his life's blood
Prostrate, in this field of France
His thoughts of home, and village dance
Where he'd kissed young girls with faces red
But never known a woman's bed

What vile butcher sent him here
Denied to him his eighteenth year?
Who gave to him his hero's fate
Now who will scrape the butcher's grate?
No more whizz-bangs, no cordite taste
Gone the stench of human waste
No more freezing, frightened winters
Gone the bleak, arboreous splinters

Just early memories so very clear
The smell of cakes and mother dear
Toasting muffins on his knees
The magic of Christmas trees
The smell of ink on school's first days
The clatter of boots on cobbled ways
The warmth of England's summer sun
All with him now, his time has come

© Copyright 2014 Redstart - All Rights Reserved
JerryPat2
Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975
South Louisiana
1 posted 2014-11-10 10:29 PM


I'll allow Edwin Starr to speak for me . . .

War, huh, yeah
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Uh-huh
War, huh, yeah
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Say it again, y'all

If they give you ruled paper write sideways.

Redstart
Senior Member
since 2014-05-16
Posts 535

2 posted 2014-11-10 10:44 PM


With ya buddy, and I'll say it as Barry McGuire:
The eastern world, it is explodin'
Violence flarin', bullets loadin'
Yer old enough to kill, but not fer votin'
Ye don't believe in war, but what's that gun yer totin'
And even the Jordan river has bodies floatin'

And don't tell me we're not on The Eve Of Destruction.

JerryPat2
Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975
South Louisiana
3 posted 2014-11-10 10:58 PM


Of course we're on the eve of destruction.

If they give you ruled paper write sideways.

Redstart
Senior Member
since 2014-05-16
Posts 535

4 posted 2014-11-10 11:19 PM


Jerry, if they give me ruled paper, I'll tell them to clear off and bring me clean, plain sheets or eff off! (winks)
JerryPat2
Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975
South Louisiana
5 posted 2014-11-11 12:05 PM


I guess then that even though I wrote sideways I was still part of the establishment. So be it, you win, you have one upped me. Eh . . .
Redstart
Senior Member
since 2014-05-16
Posts 535

6 posted 2014-11-11 02:01 AM


Never tried to 'one-up' anyone in my life, Jerry. Just me, and how I see it.
Lori Grosser Rhoden
Member Patricius
since 2009-10-10
Posts 10202
Fair to middlin' of nowhere
7 posted 2014-11-11 06:25 AM


Hey fellas! Mind if I butt in? Fine Veteran's Day Poem! Thanks for reminding me that there are more than just American Veterans to honor today!

Lori

Redstart
Senior Member
since 2014-05-16
Posts 535

8 posted 2014-11-11 06:41 AM


Thank you , Lori, and have no fear: there's a man here who also honours the young Americans who lost their lives to save me and mine from the tyranny of the Nazis and Imperialistic Japan.

Lori Grosser Rhoden
Member Patricius
since 2009-10-10
Posts 10202
Fair to middlin' of nowhere
9 posted 2014-11-11 04:40 PM


On the news,forces other than American are often called NATO, or Coalition etc. and one doesn't always stop and think what that really means-that  our troops around the world fight with troops from around the world to protect the world. Today we honor and thank them all. Oh, that this day of remembering could become an old tradition, near forgotten, as would be the ancient memory of war.
latearrival
Member Ascendant
since 2003-03-21
Posts 5499
Florida
10 posted 2014-11-11 04:59 PM


Redstart, a sad but true story and we still have a lot to learn. "When will it ever end"
best to you, Jo

Michael
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-13
Posts 7666
California
11 posted 2014-11-14 10:15 PM


Beautiful tribute, Red.  The what ifs and could've would'ves are the wounds of the survivors... and that's always hard road to travel.  When will it end?  Not soon enough, sadly.


Michael

Redstart
Senior Member
since 2014-05-16
Posts 535

12 posted 2014-11-14 11:14 PM


Michael, there is always a reason for aggression. Is it possible to turn the other cheek? No, if we are personally invaded, we respond. As do nations to aggression. There is no answer for true peace. Tyranny versus pacifism? Tyranny will always win. As Donovan sang: 'He's the Universal Soldier......'
2islander2
Member Ascendant
since 2008-03-12
Posts 6825
by the sea
13 posted 2014-11-15 10:13 AM


very painful write for those who were in France, thanks for the brillaint hommage


yann

Margherita
Member Seraphic
since 2003-02-08
Posts 22236
Eternity
14 posted 2014-11-15 11:03 AM


Very intensely expressed and poignant really. I have visited Normandy Cap Blanc-Nez recently and the tragedy of those tremendous days still impresses deeply. You look at those beaches and the German defensive structures and you get goosebumps!

What's shocking is that such terrible events do not seem to stop humans to go on with the  barbarian aggressions.

Thank you for this significant tribute to so many "someone's sons".

Margherita

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