This time of year, I like to post the series The War Poets. Just some of the men and women who served on the front line on all sides of the conflict who fought, died or returned scarred by their experiences.
They are going out at 4.a.m each morning my time, which is the coldest before the dawn, and as they would have woken in the trenches to prepare for another day of horror, bravery and sacrifice.
I would never glorify war – I see it as greed and a failure of diplomacy. Someone wants power, land, money, oil, mineral wealth etc and is unwilling to compromise or listen to reason and chooses to just take it. When diplomacy fails as it often does, those that are forced to defend their rights or territory turn to their young men and in modern times, women to fight the good fight. It never seems to end, which is why reminding ourselves from time to time about their sacrifice is both respectful and hopefully a thought provoking exercise.
As the war poet today describes – war does not end for those who have fought when a treaty has been signed; it will continue in their lives forever.
You can read or listen to both poems…
Edmund Blunden was a poet, literary editor, journalist, biographer and lecturer, travelling and teaching in England, Japan and Hong Kong. He was elected Professor of Poetry at Oxford University in 1966. He died in 1974 aged 78 having left behind an incredible legacy of work that in my mind is one of the most vivid recollections of the First World War.
He was studying Classics at Queen’s College Oxford but like so many of his age, he abandoned academic life in 1915 and joined the 11th Royal Sussex Regiment. He saw active service almost immediately at Givenchy and later at the Somme. He won the Military Cross for ‘conspicuous gallantry in action’ after a near suicidal mission under enemy shelling. From late 1916 he was with the regiment in Ypres until January 1918 when they returned to the Somme.
The two poems I have chosen are very different. The first ‘At Sawnlees Once’ is poignant as it describes a brief moment of respite from the chaos. A barn on a farm where women are working and all appears normal. An oasis of crops and chickens and a simple barn where safety and a chance to forget the war for a few brief hours was so precious.
At Sawnlees Once
How comely it was and how reviving,
When with clay and with death no longer striving
Down firm roads we came to houses
With women chattering and green grass thriving.
Now though rains in a cataract descended,
We could glow, with our tribulation ended–
Count not days, the present only
Was thought of, how could it ever be expended?
Clad so cleanly, this remnant of poor wretches
Picked up life like the hens in orchard ditches,
Gazed on the mill-sails, heard the church-bell,
Found an honest glass all manner of riches.
How they crowded the barn with lusty laughter,
Hailed the Pierrots and shook each shadowy rafter,
Even could ridicule their own sufferings,
Sang as though nothing but joy came after!
The second poem ‘Can you Remember’ is after the war – not written until 1928 when it was only becoming clear the long term effect those devastating years had on the young men of all nations who fought and survived. It is clear that for the vast majority, the war did not end, but remained in their minds and hearts their whole lives.
Can You Remember?
Yes, I still remember
The whole thing in a way;
Edge and exactitude
Depend upon the day.
Of all that prodigious scene
There seems scanty loss,
Though mists mainly float and screen
Canal, spire and fosse;
Though commonly I fail to name
That once obvious Hill,
And where we went, and whence we came
To be killed, or kill.
Those mists are spiritual
And luminous-obscure,
Evolved of countless circumstance
Of which I am sure;
Of which, at the instance
Of sound, smell, change and stir,
New-old shapes for ever
Intensely recur.
And some are sparkling, laughing, singing,
Young, heroic, mild;
And some incurable, twisted,
Shrieking, dumb, defiled.
Buy poetry Edmund Blunden: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK
Thank you for dropping in and your feedback is always welcome. Sally
Beautiful, Sally. I saved this to listen to this morning. We will remember them. 🌹
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Thanks very much Chris..♥
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Thanks, Sally. Their words say all and they should never be forgotten.
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Thanks, Sally. I enjoyed hearing you read the poems this year.
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Thank you Mary..♥
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This is so powerful, Sally, from your opening words to those horrific final two lines of the last poem. I’d not come across either poem before but they were both incredibly moving. Sadly, I don’t think you can trust those who’ve attained power through deception and force to consider the human element of those who they conscript to fight for their own twisted glory. xx
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Unfortunately, looking at the leaders of the major nations today and in the past, there seems to be a high percentage of narcissistic, power hungry individuals who believe in divine right.. not a good formula for world peace. ♥
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Tragically, I agree with every word of this. 😦
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♥
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I loved listening to you read, Sally. Your voice is beautiful, your introductions moving. You chose two heart-wrenching poems, the first so filled with longing for the joys of life, and the second aching with pain. Thank you.
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Thank you Diana.. that means a great deal.. ♥
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❤
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Heartwrenching and so important to remember our freedoms Sal. Lovely to listen to you read. ❤
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Thanks very much Debby… I wish what I share could have changed something but unfortunately we can only remember..♥
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You are sadly, right. ❤
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this brings a lump in my throat, Sally. The WW1 poets more than others, probably. What a cruel bitter war and what painful poetry. You are right to highlight; somehow we must not forget.
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Thanks Geoff.. they were so young and whilst we expect there to be some grief in our lives it is not usually over an extended period of horror and loss. No wonder so many were changed for life..♥
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Makes you think, doesn’t it? War is so much more than saving one’s country/ standing up for their rights. It’s brutal, and real, and life changing.
Thanks for sharing these heart-wrenching poems, Sally {{hugs}}
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I agree Jacquie and even today so many veterans are suffering physically and mentally from the after effects of conflict and not always as supported as they should be..♥
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The poets expressed their sentiments in such a powerful way. Thank you for the reminder to honor all of those men and women drawn into battles they never started. Hugs!
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Thanks Jan.. a small reminder to myself each year..♥
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Thank you for this poignant reminder of all those who fought, suffered, and died in the First World War. I don’t think I’ve encountered Edmund Blunden’s poetry before.
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Thank you Liz.. his poetry really seemed to grasp the emotional element and toll exacted on young me and women involved in the conflict..xx
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You’re welcome, Sally. I agree.
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Two powerful poems. If the people in power had to fight their own battles, I’m sure we’d have more diplomacy in the world. Thanks for sharing, Sally. Hugs 💕🙂
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I agree Harmony and those who have their people’s best interest at heart instead of their own. ♥
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A thoughtful reminiscence on a horrible time, Sally! For me its always hard to believe, how someone after all these experiences had the power writing down these also in verses. xx Michael
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Thanks Michael.. and I agree. Far too many on all sides fought without a choice…hugsx
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Reblogged this on OPENED HERE >> https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
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Thanks very much for sharing Michael..hugsx
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It was lovley to hear the poems read aloud.
thank you
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Thanks very much Sue..♥
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I really felt this post and poems, Sally 🙂
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Thank you Denise…hugsx
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Peerless poetry, Sally. So heartbreaking. Toni x
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A younger generation that was decimated and scarred… ♥
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So terribly poignant, Sally. Thank you for sharing.
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Thanks Robbie.. ♥
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