Lament for a Soldier and his Love.
Here, embroiled within the 'Bloody Brawl' of Passchendale,
a limb from limb torn hill, a Man made carnival of Hell,
prostrate lay I, mutilated, slow and obscenely dying,
but one last wish my fast failing heart a heeding,
My Mary's last letter, from my pocket, I so request
e'er to scan again, realms of love, known the best,
softly e'er she penned, with quietude, serenely wrote
love spun lines, for thee, the world at war,I'll quote,
"Love, thou sadly ensconced in war's harsh thwack,
enduring fury's roar and battles stressful sin,
thou, stoic of heart, set out to conquering win
humanities pride, re-instate her restful ways
of love, but pray I this, return ye fleeting back
one of these love filled days,
Pray speed the hours and swiftly flow
the lonely days that loiter long it seems,
time alas! now, measured in hope of dreams
of our tomorrows, whence,life flushed ablaze,
so return ye safe, then joy together know
one of the love filled days,
Oh! Waiting 'tis but a bitter task, a lover's fate
to languish long, e'er with fortitude, so to strive
days entrenched, keeping shinning hope, bright, alive
when strolling we, saunter our once loved ways
hand holding hand, with fervent heart I patient wait
one of these love filled days.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Posted: Aug 2015
About this poem:
Passchendale, much written in heroic terms, yet that wee bit 'o' hill, witnessed carnage unimaginable, for little gain. There in its museum, shines an inscription which reads,
'The thought that Jock died for his country is of no comfort to me, his memory is all I have left to Love.
John Low's fiancee, 10th Jan 1918.
Such sadness, such waste inspired this poem.
Comments (7)
The older I get the more pacifist I become. Thousands of years of so-called civilisation and still mankind attends to international, religious and other worldly disputes by resorting to war and all the unspeakable excesses associated with it, it's as if diplomacy has never existed!
A brilliant anti-war poem, and I so agree with the sentiments expressed therein.
Another gem from the 'Requiny2006' store of philosophy. I wonder if many of our leaders ever study philosophy - in any depth, that is...
Best wishes
Bill
Kathy
Such bloodshed cannot be condoned
or romanticized. For loved ones
the lifelong anguish must be harrowing.
Poignant and impressive pen.
Mick.
Phil.
To me it can never be glorified, it is terrible, lovely lament on those left behind struggling to understand that futility.
Rob