posted on November 11, 2004 08:59:07 AM new
In Flanders Fields
by John McCrae, May 1915
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
Some interesting reading here about the history behind this wonderful poem and why the poppy was chosen.
posted on November 11, 2004 10:07:49 AM new
Good poem and a interesting link Kiara. It is hard to imagine what a horror that war was unless one was there.
Too bad the human race never seems to learn.
posted on November 11, 2004 04:56:21 PM new
The March of The Dead
Robert Service
The cruel war was over—oh, the triumph was so sweet!
We watched the troops returning, through our tears;
There was triumph, triumph, triumph down the scarlet glittering street,
And you scarce could hear the music for the cheers.
And you scarce could see the house-tops for the flags that flew between;
The bells were pealing madly to the sky;
And everyone was shouting for the Soldiers of the Queen,
And the glory of an age was passing by.
And then there came a shadow, swift and sudden, dark and drear;
The bells were silent, not an echo stirred.
The flags were drooping sullenly, the men forgot to cheer;
We waited, and we never spoke a word.
The sky grew darker, darker, till from out the gloomy rack
There came a voice that checked the heart with dread:
"Tear down, tear down your bunting now, and hang up sable black;
They are coming—it's the Army of the Dead."
They were coming, they were coming, gaunt and ghastly, sad and slow;
They were coming, all the crimson wrecks of pride;
With faces seared, and cheeks red smeared, and haunting eyes of woe,
And clotted holes the khaki couldn't hide.
Oh, the clammy brow of anguish! the livid, foam-flecked lips!
The reeling ranks of ruin swept along!
The limb that trailed, the hand that failed, the bloody finger tips!
And oh, the dreary rhythm of their song!
"They left us on the veldt-side, but we felt we couldn't stop
On this, our England's crowning festal day;
We're the men of Magersfontein, we're the men of Spion Kop,
Colenso—we're the men who had to pay.
We're the men who paid the blood-price. Shall the grave be all our gain?
You owe us. Long and heavy is the score.
Then cheer us for our glory now, and cheer us for our pain,
And cheer us as ye never cheered before."
The folks were white and stricken, and each tongue seemed weighted with lead;
Each heart was clutched in hollow hand of ice;
And every eye was staring at the horror of the dead,
The pity of the men who paid the price.
They were come, were come to mock us, in the first flush of our peace;
Through writhing lips their teeth were all agleam;
They were coming in their thousands—oh, would they never cease!
I closed my eyes, and then—it was a dream.
There was triumph, triumph, triumph down the scarlet gleaming street;
The town was mad; a man was like a boy.
A thousand flags were flaming where the sky and city meet;
A thousand bells were thundering the joy.
There was music, mirth and sunshine; but some eyes shone with regret;
And while we stun with cheers our homing braves,
O God, in Thy great mercy, let us nevermore forget
The graves they left behind, the bitter graves.
"Please wear a poppy," the lady said
And held one forth, but I shook my head.
Then I stopped and watched as she offered them there,
And her face was old and lined with care;
But beneath the scars the years had made
There remained a smile that refused to fade.
A boy came whistling down the street,
Bouncing along on care-free feet.
His smile was full of joy and fun,
"Lady," said he, "may I have one?"
When she's pinned in on he turned to say,
"Why do we wear a poppy today?"
The lady smiled in her wistful way
And answered, "This is Remembrance Day,
And the poppy there is the symbol for
The gallant men who died in war.
And because they did, you and I are free -
That's why we wear a poppy, you see.
"I had a boy about your size,
With golden hair and big blue eyes.
He loved to play and jump and shout,
Free as a bird he would race about.
As the years went by he learned and grew
and became a man - as you will, too.
"He was fine and strong, with a boyish smile,
But he'd seemed with us such a little while
When war broke out and he went away.
I still remember his face that day
When he smiled at me and said, Goodbye,
I'll be back soon, Mom, so please don't cry.
"But the war went on and he had to stay,
And all I could do was wait and pray.
His letters told of the awful fight,
(I can see it still in my dreams at night),
With the tanks and guns and cruel barbed wire,
And the mines and bullets, the bombs and fire.
"Till at last, at last, the war was won -
And that's why we wear a poppy son."
The small boy turned as if to go,
Then said, "Thanks, lady, I'm glad to know.
That sure did sound like an awful fight,
But your son - did he come back all right?"
A tear rolled down each faded check;
She shook her head, but didn't speak.
I slunk away in a sort of shame,
And if you were me you'd have done the same;
For our thanks, in giving, if oft delayed,
Thought our freedom was bought - and thousands paid!
And so when we see a poppy worn,
Let us reflect on the burden borne,
By those who gave their very all
When asked to answer their country's call
That we at home in peace might live.
Then wear a poppy! Remember - and give!
~~By Don Crawford.~~
Edited to say Thanks, Helen..... it's been a long time since I read that one by Robert Service. A mix of triumph and great sadness in it.
We read our mail and counted up our missions--
In bombers named for girls, we burned
the cities we had learned abourt in school--
Till our lives wore out" our bodies lay among
The people we had killed and never seen.
When we lasted long enough they gave us medals;
When we died they said, "Our casualties were low."
They said, "Here are the maps";we burned the cities.
It was not dying --no, not ever dying;
But the night I died I dreamed that I was dead,
And the cities said to me: "Why are you dying?
We are satisfied, if you are; but why did I die?"
From Losses
By Randall Jarrell
[ edited by Helenjw on Nov 11, 2004 07:12 PM ]
posted on November 11, 2004 08:15:24 PM new
But why did I die,,,Hitler and the rest of those thugs were brought to Justice,,,that's why I was killed,,,and the world was once again at Peace...Our Bombs,,Our GUTS,,,Our NERVE,,,,Our Strength!!!! Our self sacrifice,,,Our Call to DUTY, HONOR and Country. We asked no one to shed a tear.
I have traveled the world over,,,I have made a POINT to Visit the Graveyards of the fallen,,,rows and rows and rows,,,,,I have stood in silence,,,,,bowed my head,,,Stood at ATTENTION!!!! Saluted!!!!! These BRAVE self GIVING Soldiers,,,Marines,,,Matters not what Uniform they ware,,,Americans who give the Ultimate......Their very lives to attain Peace....I Semper Fi all those fallen in Battle. May God bless and keep those who keep us FREE. Amen.
posted on November 12, 2004 12:23:01 AM new
AMEN JACK!! Today I went to a feed put on by an attorney who is a Viet Nam Veteran. This is the 4th year that he hs put on a feed for all vets & their wives etc. I have no idea how manmy were fed, but it had to be in the hundreds. There were Vets from WWII, Korea, Nam, the Gulf War &n the present conflicts oin the middle east. A really great tribute!
Life Is Too Short To Drink Bad Wine
posted on November 12, 2004 01:03:20 AM new
The local carwash was giving free car washes to veterans today. Unfortunately it rained and I noticed when I drove by that there was no one there.
Luckily, the local community did not let the rain spoil the parades. We had a several huge parades with a great turn out.
posted on November 12, 2004 03:08:16 AM new
terryann, I buy them too, when I see the vets out there; because they are symbolic and a small way to donate something and to say 'hello in there' to these forgotten vets. Funny thing but when *I* posted this very same poem in the RT last year, on Memorial day, all I got was flack from the kiara the others about how it 'doesnt' mean anything to do that. What a difference 8 months makes - go figure!
posted on November 12, 2004 07:39:54 AM newFunny thing but when *I* posted this very same poem in the RT last year, on Memorial day, all I got was flack from the kiara the others about how it 'doesnt' mean anything to do that. What a difference 8 months makes - go figure!
What a terrible thing to say, neroter12. I learned that poem as a young child and would never say that it means nothing for someone to post it. I can even find the other thread if you wish me to. BTW, I think Flanders Fields is posted here each year by someone. It means something special to me and I would never give anyone flack for posting it anywhere.
The schools and parents have made a large effort to get the children involved in the Remembrance Day ceremonies each year and there is a huge participation by them. It's great to see them care and make the day special. They also recite the poem, Flanders Fields.
posted on November 12, 2004 10:51:20 AM new
I traveled around the world with the U.S. Navy, which encourages it's people to use the buddy system when on the beach. I always made a point to visit local military cemeteries. My buddies would think it was hokey, until we got there. The impact is always impressive and sometimes overwhelming. i have seen the toughest cry as we paid homage to fallen American heroes.
I still visit veteran cemeteries. The one at Santa Nella is large, it opened only a few years ago and is slated to close in 2005. We are losing over a thousand WWII vets a day because their generation is passing.
If you know a veteran, or any senior, get their stories on tape. I wish I had some of the stories that papa Dave and the Cuban used to swap. Papa Dave helped liberate the Philippine's, the Cuban was in Angola.
Papa Dave had campaign ribbons for WWII, Korea, Viet Nam, and Watts.
posted on November 12, 2004 03:28:32 PM new
I thought the Vietnam Wall was a "nice gesture" until I visited it 2 years ago.
The energy there is amazing. The sadness and yet strong sense of pride in service is overwhelming. I originally intended to just do a walk through and ended up spending most of the day there reading the names. Many of them had personal notes from friends and family.
Those names on that black wall were all either sons, daughter, mothers or fathers. To think of the self-lessness of a group of people that realized the importance of something greater than themselves is an exercise we could all benefit from.
posted on November 13, 2004 09:45:20 PM new Kiara
My favorite poem, know it by heart, but the line:
If ye break faith with us who die
for some reason I can never remember that.
posted on November 13, 2004 10:46:43 PM new
There's an American Cemetery at Margraten in the Netherlands that is quite lovely and memorable. Dutch families from the area have "adopted" the graves and care for them throughout the year. Responsibility for the care of the graves is passed down to the next generations much like an "inheritance". I spoke with several of the families who tended specific graves and each spoke with reverence of "their" grave and of "their" soldier who was buried there. I was very moved by the dedication and care these people showed and think of them every year at this time.
posted on November 13, 2004 10:53:53 PM new
Yes, I spoke of the rows of Crosses,,rows and rows,,never ending rows,,,and then you bring to mind the,Arizona,,,,yes,,,,,I too have set foot on Her Memorial..and those who perished 7, December 1941. They were the Begining of the END of the 2nd WW....They did NOT die in Vain. Their SPIRIT,,,,Their Remember the Arizona cry from the depths,,,Cause, reason,,,,They shall forever be imbeded in the minds of the American Armed Forces,,Their sacrifices were heard round the WORLD,,,,,,We shall NEVER be Defeated! Peace and FREEDOM Shall Ring,,,We died/were killed, so that others Shall LIVE in Peace.....We are the FEW for the MANY. Thank you for visiting us,,,,the U.S.S. Arizona,,,,Aloha.........
