Remembrance Day 2019

Posted bylensdailydiaryPosted inUncategorized
In my library there is a book I take out once a year on Remembrance Day entitled Anthem For Damned Youth-Poets of the Great War-edited by Lyn Macdonald

I saw you fooling often in the tents

With fair disheveled hair and laughing lips,

And frolic elf lights in your careless eyes,

As who had never known the taste of tears

Or the worlds sorrow. Then on march one night,

Halted beneath the stars I heard the sound

Of talk and laughter, and glanced back to see

If you were there. But you stood far apart

And silent, bowed upon your rifle butt

And gazed into the night as one who sees.

I marked the drooping lips and fathomless eyes

And knew you brooded on immortal things.

Glimpse- W.N.Hodgson

Published by lensdailydiary

Born Stepney, London, England. Emigrated to Canada. Married, two children, six grandchildren. Retired. Conservative and cultural catholic. LOVE soccer. Tottenham Hotspur. Read historical and fantasy fiction..

11 thoughts on “Remembrance Day 2019”

  1. That’s lovely, Len. The one thing I take from the war poets is that it is not just “war poetry”, but good poetry. All that talent that was lost… And there must have been every bit as much German-language work, too, that we don’t know about.

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  4. What a profound poem, Len. This really struck at my heart with its sharp contrast between the laughing eyes of innocence and those who have seen far too much. We age our young beyond their years with our wars. A beautiful tribute and so sad. Thanks for sharing.

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