A Fallen Hero

By hedgehog1

Tue, 15 Aug 2017
  • 853 reads
4 comments
 

Wounded in the first wave of fighting

He fell back into the trench the tide of pain passed

Waves of water around his body whispering his name

Dimly he could hear shells exploding

Above it all a red kite soared as he walked by his home

Dawns early light saw a cloud of butterflies rising

His wife's face radiant as they lay side by side

Breast to breast they lay as he turned again

Confused sinking in the trench his breath a hollow rasp

The mill race and familiar voices calling out

So far away as they whispered through the trenches

As his lips turned blue

He felt her near him, the pain eased and-

Suddenly........

Certificate U
Poem
Unclassified
Other Non-fiction

Comments

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Sensitive picture of such glimpses of past pleasure and happiness as pain eases – as so often it probably does in those last moments. Maybe a reaching out to heaven also? Rhiannon

 

Submitted by hedgehog1 on

Who knows what was in those young men's mind as they made the ultimate sacrifice Rhiannon. I would like to think that heaven did indeed ease their pain and welcome them there at Gods right hand.

Edward

 

Submitted by Tom Brown on

Beautiful work describing exposure, eventual delirium and finally deliverence. In general I don't like war poetry but,

Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori and sweet et cetera. Sorry my Latin is terrible.

All  of the best! Tom Brown

 

Submitted by hedgehog1 on

Thank you for your comments Tom Brown, I'm sure you were aware you were quoting Wilfred Owen's poem when you wrote your comment. The full quote is "Dulce et decorum est" which means "it is sweet and honourable...." followed by "pro patria mori" which means "to die for ones country". The quote originates from a roman poet called Horace.

Edward