For Remembrance Day/Armistice Day/Veterans Day
If poetry could raise the dead
the earth would bleed where they had bled
to flow back into fallen soldiers
who would rise, young and filled with wonder
and they would laugh and smile again
the millions, shaking dirt from tousled hair
turning unmarked faces to the sun
looking ’round to hug their friends
as well as former foes; gathering
to share a coffee, a schnapps, a sake
wondering which poet wrote the lines
which brought them back to life.
And leaning against the stone
they would gather to go home
strong and virile cobbler, butcher, Kansas boy
as all the nations wept with joy on their return
and they would work, create
have children, celebrate,
watch football, cut grass, harvest
live, love and die in their own bed
for if my poem could raise the dead
your gentle Seiji, Hans, Yuri and Tom
would rise in triumph and come home
never to see war again.
.
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http://sanfranciscoba.wordpress.com/2012/05/23/in-flanders-fields/
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Originally published at the curated poetry site Haggard and Halloo
http://www.haggardandhalloo.com/2015/01/12/if-poetry-could-raise-the-dead/
“We don’t accept any rhyming poetry or clichés about your soul.”
Reblogged this on John Knifton and commented:
We forget too easily just what all those brave young men and women sacrificed for our freedoms. Decade after decade of ordinary, everyday life.
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That is a wonderful, wonderful poem.
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Many thanks, Glad you liked, Regards from Florida
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Eminently suitable for today, Frank. It has been a day of solemn remembrance in the UK, and all have been remembered, just as they are in your excellent poem.
Best wishes, Pete.
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That was really beautiful, thank you
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Excellent
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