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Whose War

Posted by threeleafshamrock on December 16, 2009 - 16:08
from the ABC set The Words of War

His hand shoots up in smart salute
he bids me, wish him well.
I watch unwillingly, a mute,
this young man bound for hell.

His beret, carefully askew,
the boots, a gleaming black
his weapon slung and shiny new;
a jacket made for flak..

This is no sports day for the school
no football match, no game
for this trip, there is but one rule;
do not get killed or maimed!

Crowds clap and cheer and shout; 'Hurray!
it's off to war, we go'.
Untried heroes march away,
to meet determined foe.

And time will tell, depending on
which side, your heart doth lie
who was right or who was wrong...
but still the young men die.

The Politicians calmly stroke
their nibs, through well planned notes
of heartfelt sorrow, they'll invoke,
when comes the time for votes.

Discuss this piece in the abctales forum


Comments

Silver Spun Sand | December 16, 2009 - 19:15

Another well thought out and moving piece, Chris, but just wondered about the title, 'Who's War'. Could be 'Whose War' perhaps.

Like this stanza especially:-

"His beret, carefully askew,
the boots, a gleaming black
his weapon slung and shiny new;
a jacket made for flak.."

Tina XX

Nathan Bednarek | December 16, 2009 - 22:05

I too love the stanza Tina quoted. The poem is beautifully written, but I also don't get the title...

A big well done from me.

Nathan.

threeleafshamrock | December 17, 2009 - 08:28

Thanks Tina and especially for noticing the glaring omission. I initially had another title for this piece but then changed a few things and so changed the title also (or most of it). Thanks for taking the time, as usual; greatly appreciated ;) XXXX

threeleafshamrock | December 17, 2009 - 08:34

Thanks Nathan for the kind words, glad you liked it ;)
Any news on the jobs front. The present economy isn't associated with a jobs surplus unfortunately but at least you have age and intelligence on your side. Good luck, ;)

shoe | December 17, 2009 - 11:09

Captures the helplessness we feel at the loss of innocent\immature young lives, one of your best,:-)

threeleafshamrock | December 17, 2009 - 11:45

Thanks Shoe; appreciated ;)

Try a favorite of mine;

The Great Trust (1914-1918 Sonnet); think you might like. ;)

threeleafshamrock | December 17, 2009 - 13:31

Thanks for the cherry folks; delighted! ;)

MistakenMagic | December 17, 2009 - 14:34

Well done on another cherry and another brilliant war poem, Chris! Love the last two stanzas!

Magic xxx

shoe | December 18, 2009 - 15:03

Great trust, I have been reading Robert Graves and Edmund Blunden ect, this is up there with the best, a timeless/classic feel,
well deserved cherry too!

threeleafshamrock | December 18, 2009 - 17:19

Thanks Magic; thinking of creating another collection category for the war stuff. Glad you liked ;) XXXX

threeleafshamrock | December 18, 2009 - 17:29

Thanks again Shoe, thought you might like that one. It's an era that I love writing about...as you might have guessed ;)