"Oh, It's a Lovely War!"

Cherry

By Silver Spun Sand

Sun, 01 Jun 2014
  • 6436 reads
16 comments
 
 
Village girls in gingham frocks,
farmers in their Sunday smocks,
trestle tables lined with cloths,
and bunches of forget-me-nots
festoon the old, oak rafters.
 
A fiddler plays The Twelfth Street Rag,
wives and husbands clap their hands,
kissing couples make their plans
for the reading of their wedding banns
and happy-ever-afters.
 
Too soon they hear the cockerel crow;
morning breaks – the night has flown.
It seems the boys to men have grown
as each puts on their soldiers’ clothes
in a bid to save Old Blighty.
 
The sweethearts wave, and say goodbye,
the children ask their elders, Why?
For King and country, some reply
as into battle – brave they ride,
bayonets at the ready.
 
For miles and miles the trenches stretched,
the summer – cold, and hellish wet; 
in mud they wallowed – to their necks,
in mud they fought and ate and slept,
and Sir Douglas Haig thought on.
 
Their trusted steeds left far behind,
for tanks and planes marked modern times;
in Passchendaele at Ypres they died –
five hundred thousand at their side,
as many asked, What for?
 
On mouldering soil a father weeps,
a mother cries herself to sleep;
bells ring hollow chimes of peace,
forget-me-nots of memories, sweet,
lay – heavy on a coffin.
Certificate 12
Poem
Silver Spun Sand Poems
Spiritual
Historical Fiction

Comments

Submitted by torscot on

I'm so glad to see  you posted an entry Sandlady 

"...and Sir Douglas Haig thought on..."   A man not liked by many in the trenches

Ps I hope Fulham are playing well these days?

torscot

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

torscot - so pleased you noticedsmiley  Yes, I thought I may as well try my luck, along with the rest of us...and as for Fulham, that's a very sore point with my other half, these days.  Mind you, his mind is elsewhere for the next few weeks, at least, with the World Cup looming large.  

All the best.

Tina

 

 

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Just twigged.  Hope you're well, and your lovely countryside.

Warm regards

Sandlady

 

Submitted by Bee on

The contrast as it moves through the changes makes it all the more powerful. It's like all the colour drains away as the mood changes. Really well done!

Bee

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Thanks, Bee.  Your words, inspired, as ever.

Tina

 

Submitted by scratch on

Excellent!

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Ta, scratch.  I'm chuffed you consider it sosmiley

Tina

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

I'm only able to dip in from time to time, as we are having a little holiday.
You have given much thought here to bring in quite a number of points unobtrusively on tthe history. Rhiannon
 

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Thanks so much, Rhiannon for taking time out from your hols to read this, and comment so thoughtfully.  I tried to bring in as much background as I could, without it 'swamping' the poem with facts.  Much obliged to you for noticing, and I do so hope that you and yours are having an enjoyable and relaxing time, with plenty of sunshine thrown in good measure, I hopesmiley

Best wishes.

Tina

 

Submitted by prettyrose on

smileyHi Tina, How are you :)

I like how you have made this poem interesting from the first word,and make the beauty visible to writers,even while underlying issue of pain and heartache and fear are there. Brilliant as always.

 

Take Care

smiley Keep Smiling

Keep Writing xxx

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Thanks, so much for your lovely comment.  So sorry I've been a while getting back to you...life gets in the way sometimessmiley  Your words, more than appreciated.

Tina x

 

Submitted by prettyrose on

smileyHi Tina, I hope life is not getting in the way of you smiling or you and your family being well !!!

 

Not to worry I know what it's like. and appreicate your words.

 

Take Care

 

Trish x

smiley Keep Smiling

Keep Writing xxx

Submitted by Starfish Girl on

The comparisons you have made between life and probable death are very moving.

Lindy

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Thank you, Lindy.  Much appreciated.

Tina

 

Submitted by forest_for_ever on

I must have read hundreds of poems about WW1.  Indeed, I studied it briefly during my time at college.  Many are bitter and angry poems, but the beauty of this work is the simple, powerful question that for many is yet to be answered 'what for?'

I love your work and find this poem inspirational.

Thank you

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

My sincere thanks to you, ffe, for reading this one, and commenting so intuitively.  As a writer yourself, you appreciate how rewarding that is. 

My best wishes to you.

Tina