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Lady Lost
Member
since 2000-07-13
Posts 470


0 posted 2000-07-19 01:30 PM


The fiddler is playing loudly
men and women cheer;
raising up their glasses,
yelling a hardy 'here here',

A man's voice yells out
from back beyond the bar
"Are we cheering because we won the war?
are we cheering for the stars?
For all of you are happy;
but you did not ever see,
the blood that was shed on this land
so that you can celebrate this victory!"

As the man walks closer to the front
silence surrounds the place;
he only has one arm,
scars covering his rugged face.

"I have a tale to tell you
one that may be hard to hear;
But I know the truth my friends,
of the war for which you cheer."
I was on your side you see
doing my duty as a man;
traveling abroad
fighting battles in distant land."

"I seen men die out there
on the fields every night;
I seen men cry out in agony,
from a lost bayonette fight.
I seen the face of horror
of pain and of death;
I seen promising young boys
take their very last breath."
"They all look the same you know,
same as your own;
crying out for their mothers,
wanting to go home."

"So cheer not for your victory
but mourn for those who died;
those boys will not be going home now,
doesn't matter from which side.
A mother lost her boy
A father lost his son;
So now you tell me...,
Who is it that really won?"< !signature-->

You can never have too much fiction; reality can be such a bore

© Copyright 2000 BAB - All Rights Reserved
ellie LeJeune
Member Elite
since 2000-01-10
Posts 4156
King of Prussia, PA USA
1 posted 2000-07-19 05:56 PM


What a magnificent tale you tell of courage and truth. Your poetic rhyme and flow are exquisite. You have a very great talent.
Ellie

Summers haunting melody
that awakens
the butterflies,
calling them to join
the dance
in their silent song
of praise to God.

eL

Lady Lost
Member
since 2000-07-13
Posts 470

2 posted 2000-07-20 07:45 AM


Thank you for your kind words, Ellie, it means a lot to me!
Dennis L. White
Senior Member
since 2000-02-17
Posts 1463
Michigan, U.S.A.
3 posted 2000-07-20 09:22 AM


Lady Lost,
  Your writing shows thoughtfulness and depth. You've ended your poem with a thought provoking question, Who is it that really won? Soliders are the rich mans pawns, true, ideally we fight to maintain freedom, but that is not always the case and the price of our involvement is NOT always justified. Great piece!
Dennis :^)
< !signature-->

Moonbeams radiate
When the veiling cloud has past
Playful shadows dance

Dennis L. White :^)


[This message has been edited by Dennis L. White (edited 07-20-2000).]

dgvarner
Member Elite
since 2000-05-13
Posts 3552
High Springs, Florida
4 posted 2000-07-21 12:30 PM


wow...this IS very thought provoking..and wonderfully written, i might add..

very touching..

(i wish you'd summitted this for the book!  i submit a lot of things that arent near this well-written, "just in case"  lol)

dg


"i speak in written word--my lips, no sound may utter..." dgvarner

2dalimit
Member Elite
since 2000-02-08
Posts 2228
Mississippi coast
5 posted 2000-07-21 08:18 AM


Touching and so true. Very good read.
Melton

childomine
Senior Member
since 2000-01-25
Posts 818
st. petersburg, FL
6 posted 2000-07-21 01:10 PM


Gave me chills.  You speak the truth in a way that doesn't point fingers or belittle.  Excellent flow, good topic and a question that only has one answer - there are no winners.
brian madden
Member Elite
since 2000-05-06
Posts 4374
ireland
7 posted 2000-07-21 04:23 PM


Brilliantly stated, in war their are no winners. Excellent poem Lady Lost.

why must we pray
screaming? why must not death be redefined? we shut our eyes we stretch out our arms and whirl on a pane of glass-patti smith

Denise
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-08-22
Posts 22648

8 posted 2000-07-21 07:42 PM


Excellent poem, Lady Lost!

Denise

deleeme
Senior Member
since 1999-10-09
Posts 1766
NEW ENGLAND, USA
9 posted 2000-07-22 07:30 AM


L.L.
  Your writings are so meaty-to fill a hungry mind--to help us look at things differently-and perhaps our life redefine.
Your keenness of thought& observance- and your well crafted verse- make your poetic works an excercise in enjoyment-investigation-and enlightenment.  Keep up the good work.  David

"GOD GIVES- but man must open his hand." (German Proverb)


Lost Dreamer
Member Elite
since 1999-06-20
Posts 2464
Somewhere near the Rainbow
10 posted 2000-07-22 10:06 AM


Lady Lost, You bring tears to my eyes with this poem, it speaks with such strength and reality. So many have lost their lives and so many never even recognize.
kelieth
Member
since 2000-06-12
Posts 314
Normal IL - USA
11 posted 2000-07-24 01:51 AM


If asked...
Battles fought
Both won and lost
are not worth
their bloddy cost.
To smell the sulfer,
your rifle gives.
To hear the screams,
where death is.
They do bleed
and so do we.
thus I agree
Who has the victory?

Moving piece.  I feel it with my heart.

Kevin

"Anything is possible with patience, time is the tool use it to reach your goals."

midnightblues
Senior Member
since 2000-07-01
Posts 1597
Singapore
12 posted 2000-07-25 03:44 AM


You paint a nostalgic and tragic picture with your flair, LadyLost. Thanks for sharing this... you opened up my third eye...and I feel so very fortunate!

love, michelle


If there cannot be equal in affection, then let the one with more be me - midnightblues™

Darkened Treasures
Junior Member
since 2000-07-19
Posts 18
nj
13 posted 2000-08-10 09:38 PM


A tale of great heart and feeling
The scenes of gore leave my head reeling

Simply marvoulous once again
This tale of heart and pain

Who would have thought a good little girl like you could destroy my beautiful wickedness.

Wikket
Member
since 2000-01-29
Posts 340
Santa Clara, CA USA
14 posted 2000-08-11 08:26 AM


As a soldier myself, I can relate to this one.  Although I've never been in a battle, I have seen those who have come back;  some of those same soldiers fill the Hospitals even today.  Their pain and sacrifice has given me the grace to live freely, and I must not forget that.  

Thank you for this...it is a very honorable poem.   ~~Jamie  

CitiZen-One
Member
since 2000-09-22
Posts 84
New Mexico
15 posted 2000-09-28 02:23 PM


This is one of the Most powerful poems I have ever read. It chilled me to the bone indeed. Such truer words were never spoken. You truly painted a vivid picture for me. I saw this big sweaty pub, with cigarrette smoke and oak, people swilling beer with jar heads and green threads. And I saw the man with the One arm as he pushed through those window shutter doors and I saw the age in his eyes and the pain in his lips.

Thank you

Victoria
Deputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Ascendant
since 2000-08-12
Posts 5869

16 posted 2000-09-28 10:13 PM


Nicely written..enjoyed..
Broken_Winged_Angel
Senior Member
since 2000-04-06
Posts 994
Small Town, Somewhere
17 posted 2000-09-29 05:00 AM


One of my close friends was in combat and had to watch while his friend died beside him.  He said that it was the hardest thing to see, because he knew that it didn't have to happen.  This reminded me of him and his lost soldier friend.  Your poem touched me deeply.  Thankyou for sharing it.

With a little piece of tomorrow,
You'll have to kiss yesterday goodbye.
Because today won't last forever,
And the past will only make you cry.

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