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those who have died
| Open Poetry #7 |
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those who have died |
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bsquirrel
since 2000-01-03
Posts 7855
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In memorium: the light from the lantern in the trench reflecting the bars and the boys and the men. the pale sky of smoke, the pale ground of dirt and mud. hearts shot right out, minds left in grass, futures fall to heavy barraged death. wounded and crippled, guns dropped at side spattered with blood. the light shakes as treads impact the ground. nursed flame in glass wavers, goes out. ears and sight gone. things go to hell. those silent rows of stones and trees and cut-back weeds. the stories that will never be told, except crying on knees. fingering the engravings with young fingers full of meaning. your breath and hearts beating can still be heard in the whipping flag cast strong in the wind: trailing red against the white sun, the blue empty sky. this is to all those who have died. |
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brian madden Member Elite
since 2000-05-06
Posts 4374ireland |
wow a powerful poem, in the end I don't think war resolves anything and been from Ireland which has a very violent history I still believe in pacifism. That said I really enjoyerd your poem. "those silent rows of stones and trees and cut-back weeds. the stories that will never be told, except crying on knees. fingering the engravings with young fingers full of meaning". your poem reminded me, well mainly the title of another poem about war. Song Of Those Who Died In Vain (Primo Levi [1919 - 1987]) Sit down and bargain All you like grizzled old foxes We'll wall you up in a splendid palace With food, wine, good beds and a good fire Provided that you discuss, negotiate For our and your children's lives May all the wisedom of the universe Converge to bless your minds And guide you in the maze But outside in the cold we will be waiting for you The army of those who died in vain We of the Marne, of Montecassino Treblinka, Dresden and Hiroshima And with us will be The leprous and the people with trachoma The disappeared ones of Buenos Aires Dead Cambodians and dying Ethiopians The Prague negotiatiors The bled dry of Calcutta The innocents slaughtered in Bologna Heaven help you if you come out disagreeing You'll be clutched tight in our embrace We are invincible because we are the conquered Invulnerable because already dead We laugh at your missiles Sit down and bargain Until your tongues are dry If the havoc and the shame continue We'll drown you in our putrefaction Primo Levi 14th January 1985 ------------------------ "Isn't it enough to see that a garden is beautiful without having to believe that there are fairies at the bottom of it too? " Douglas Adams. "Here chewing your tail is joy" Richey Edwards "Take nothing but pictures. Leave nothing but footprints. Kill nothing but time". Baltimore Grotto |
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bsquirrel
since 2000-01-03
Posts 7855 |
brian, Thanks for your reply. I agree that war is unfortunate. My question is, in the world we live in, can we stop the fighting? I don't think so. Instead of looking to a future that flies against the face of human nature, I'd rather be happy with what we have -- as imperfect as it is -- and try to honor those who died, whether or not they believed in war themselves. Also, thanks for sharing that poem with me. I appreciate it. Mike |
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redheart angrybraids Member
since 2000-04-16
Posts 410honolulu, hawaii |
thank you for your true heart words of remembering those that we've lost. in my heart i hold them all strong and i just love your whole poem. it's really rare that poeple dare to write of things that are real and scary, and plain of life, still intense but with true meaning, even for a words point of view. I will spare the change to the drunken few who have trugged and lost what they new. kindly, redheart angrybraids |
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Kit McCallum
Administrator
Member Laureate
since 2000-04-30
Posts 14774Ontario, Canada |
This was a poignant remembrance of the horrors and hollowness of war Mike, well done. Best wishes, /Kit |
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Meadowmuse Member Elite
since 1999-12-27
Posts 3263 |
Excellent writing, Mike...I could see it, hear it, feel it, smell it...and yes, to honor those who have died, it is, indeed, our unfortunate priviledge. Claire Could a greater miracle take place than for us to look through each other's eyes for an instant?......Henry David Thoreau |
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Janet Marie Member Laureate
since 2000-01-22
Posts 18554 |
those silent rows of stones and trees and cut-back weeds. the stories that will never be told, except crying on knees. fingering the engravings with young fingers full of meaning. your breath and hearts beating can still be heard in the whipping flag cast strong in the wind: trailing red against the white sun, the blue empty sky. this is to all those who have died. ------------------ mike, i will behave myself in this reply and just tell you this poem effected me deeply, and I greatly admire the poet who wrote it take care cool squirrel bs/jm Some things cannot be explained by verses that rhyme, They are not measured by the commitment of time. Some emotions run too deep to be described by words, Forgiveness and understanding-remain the most beautiful words ever heard. ~Janet Marie~ "What the caterpillar calls the end ... The world calls a butterfly" ~Lao Tze Tao~ ~Butterflies are meant to be free~ |
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Marge Tindal
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384Florida's Foreverly Shores |
Mike~ My heart salutes this piece. The ravages of war have taken those who relentlessly fought it's battles. I'm usually reminded of Billy Ray Cyrus' hit song with the phrase ... 'All Gave Some ... Some Gave All' Honor to all ... Thank you for this poignant piece on this day set aside for remembering. ~*Marge*~ ~*The pen of the poet never runs out of ink, as long as we breathe.*~ [email protected] |
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bsquirrel
since 2000-01-03
Posts 7855 |
Thanks all, for reading and remembering. Mike |
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