it saddens me
old 'blood and guts'
the heroes and their glory
behind them trails a deathly story
it saddens me
as kids we'd create
rattle of gunfire in our throats
though father missed the homecoming boats
those who were given no surrender
expendable souls of our dead defenders
facing deaths machine with no place to go
no glorious tomorrow riding Winnie's dynamo
it saddens me
to have no answer
did they die for peace 'ever after'
we feigned 'glory' and hid their 'disaster'
it saddens me
-
Author:
dusk arising (
Offline) - Published: August 15th, 2020 07:09
- Comment from author about the poem: For those who fought and those who did not come home. VJ. Victory in Japan. Our forgotten army. Respect.
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 28
- User favorite of this poem: Poetic Dan.
Offline)
Comments8
The very sad fact of war heroes who get forgotten or those who did not return to hearth and home is so clearly presented here with your pen painting their sacrifice with legitimate questions - what answers we give re. peace ever after can never be said of all the wars since. Thanks for this solemn reminder D.A.
A thoughtful write dusk.
It saddens me too DA and my word sir, your poem today of all days could not be more timely, nor poignant ....
My wife's uncle Tommy died in Changi POW camp Singapore .. twice we have now visited to pay our respects, not only to him, but the many hundreds of thousands that made the kind of sacrifice in order that we could eventually celebrate VE Day....
Neville
Truly no answer. Idealists have been imagining peace since the Hittites made peace with Egypt 3300 years ago, and Priam kissed Achilles' feet, and Hsian Shu's peace treaty failed to stop the grinding wars among the ancient Chinese kingdoms, to martyred Jesus of Nazareth and assassinated John Lennon, Mahatma Gandhi, and Martin Luther King. Madness.
As you ponder war and peace, particularly the end of WWII in the Pacific theater, you should experience Kon Ichikawa's "Harp of Burma," about the Japanese soldier who turns his back on war but not on the warriors. It is in my humble opinion the most important, beautiful film ever made.
http://sensesofcinema.com/2012/cteq/the-burmese-harp/
Your focus on those who never returned brought the film to mind. The principle character in the film saves numerous British soldiers with an overpowering version of Home Sweet Home, and makes a loving mission of giving proper burials to combatants on all sides.
It saddens me as well. One of my Uncles was a Japanese POW, he never ever said anything about that time, you could see in his eyes that the sadness of that time was still within him.
Andy
that second stanza got me well and good, a wonderfully tender and emotive write my friend,
an important message as well: we must never forget, those who risk(ed) their lives for our freedom - whatever our perspectives on the validity of the conflict(s) they were involved in, their bravery and sacrifice deserve our utmost respect!
Hi Dusk Arising,
A wonderful, brilliant write.
We should definitely respect our armed forces more.
The soldiers from WW1 and WW2 I hold up with deepest respect and admiration.
Thanks for this wonderful tribute
Keep writing ✍ and safe during these challenging times.
FineB
I originally posted this in May this year with the accompanying note which may be of interest to you in view of your comment.
This is about the 51st Highland Division who Winston Churchill sacrificed in north France as a sideshow so that his operation dynamo (the evacuation at Dunkirk) could take place. Churchill, nicknamed winnie (or old blood and guts because of his previous record in Britains fighting history) ordered the 51st Highland Division to fight to the death against the vastly superior and better equipped Nazis under general Erwin Rommel. They were defeated out of ammunition at St Valery-en-Caux on the coast and General Fortune surrendered the remaining 11,000 soldiers 5,000 of whom were wounded and all were taken as prisoners of war. Their courage and sacrifice never received any recognition. No campaign medal was ever awarded. This is not a tribute, I cannot find words fine enough to write a tribute to these betrayed loyal men.
Reading my note again saddens me to tears.
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