Never Forget.
Let us remember
all imprisoned birds in order to sing
must visualize
winging to needed freedom of open
barred ease so with
calls to defend pointing at striplings
brought volunteered
smiles to the whining of mortar-flak.
Without prior warning
boy-choirs began welcome training
for foreign fields
and bellow refrains at shellfire noise
behind lines when
saddened eyes view evil happenings
hell-bent on
fright as sound blasts youthful minds.
Yet singing drifted to bleak horizons
with dauntless
defiance and when ducking shrapnel
lads' song explosions
became ever louder to drown bedlam
of fear-drenched trenches
then sunk in the battle's louder intent.
Youth's face altered as reality's chaos
dented courage yet
held resistance to mortared rattle and
kept trust fresh
by lads' attempts at more balladeering
which lent grit
while bulletfire rose until breath failed
and young songbirds
when in last thoughts of home-land at
some closing moment
let voices cease in throe's final breath.
Freedom's rally
over for such lads meant singing effort
forever was done.
Red as the poppy their sacrificed blood
left legible lessons
for all to remember and never forget.
-
Author:
Fay Slimm. (
Offline) - Published: October 10th, 2020 04:50
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 51
Offline)
Comments6
Peter Jackson's They Shall Never Grow Old brought this war from back in the distance to right in front of our faces again...... and the agony of another one only 21 years later so fresh .... they won't learn..... they never do.
Too true Lorna - war is waged at the least provocation if forgiveness has never been learned.
In the hope that those who have not yet considered both the futility and disgusting obscenity which warfare is, we must continue to enliven the message.
You lovely piece today surely will set many grey cells to contemplate this viewpoint.
War has been waged ever since time began by those who scoff at forgiveness - thanks D.A. for your thoughtful comment on Never Forget.
these words, so perfectly laid, one after the other almost brought tears to this old fella's eyes ............
Yes the lads who went off with joked and laughter must have had the mistaken idea that war was an adventure - - I was as near to tears as I wrote this tragic lament Nev.................x
A poignant write Fay.
Yes poignant just suits the subject dear Orchi - -thanks for your visit to read and digest "Never Forget".
Beautifully penned! One of your best by far
Am so pleased you dropped by for the read dear friend - - the subject means so much to those who try to feel what it meant to lose a whole generation of youth back then...............
Superb write Fay, war gains us nothing except despair, may it stop one day so that love can bloom.
Andy
Your comment states the whole truth dear Andy that love should bloom in this war-ridden world - - thank you so much for the read of Never Forget.
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