This time of year, I re-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.
We often dismiss the words of the young due to their lack of life experience. However there was no such lack in the lives of the youthful poets who experienced the dreadful events of the First and Second World War. Today a woman who lived through both of these conflicts and lost ones that she loved.
You can listen to this post on my podcast along with the poem THE SUPERFLOUOUS WOMAN
The next poet in the series on the War Poets is a woman, Vera Brittain, feminist, poet and novelist, who was born in Newcastle under Lyme on 29 December 1893, and was raised in Macclesfield and Buxton. Educated at St. Monica’s School and Somerville College, Oxford. She left to serve as a Voluntary Aid Detachment nurse (VAD) during the First World war, being posted to France and Malta. Vera became engaged during the war, in 1915, to Roland Leighton but sadly he was killed by a sniper in December of that year. Tragically she was also to lose her brother Edward in 1918 and two other very close friends.
Following the end of the war, Vera returned to Oxford to read history, and worked briefly as a teacher before devoting her time to writing. By now a committed pacifist, she was involved with the Peace Pledge Union until her death, and served as vice-president of the national Peace Council, campaigning for peace during the Second World War.
Her first poetry was published in August 1919, Verses of a V.A.D, containing a poem dedicated to Edward, To My Brother. Her first novel, The Dark Tide, was published in 1923.
In 1925 Vera married George C.G. Catlin a political scientist and they moved to New York for a year to live. Her famous memoir Testament of Youth was published in 1933, a story of ‘the lost generation’. The book also recounted her wartime experiences and her marriage to George C.G. Catlin.
Vera Brittain died in Wimbledon on 29 March 1970. Her ashes were sprinkled over her brother Edward’s grave in Italy, where he died. I have chosen her poem The Superflouous Woman because I think it reflects the enormity of the loss of nearly a whole generation of young men who died in the First World War and the millions of young women at the end of the conflict, who lost not only their boyfriends and husbands, but in many cases the chance of every finding love again.
THE SUPERFLOUOUS WOMAN
Ghosts crying down the vistas of the years,
Recalling words
Whose echoes long have died,
And kind moss grown
Over the sharp and blood-bespattered stones
Which cut our feet upon the ancient ways.
But who will look for my coming?
Long busy days where many meet and part;
Crowded aside
Remembered hours of hope;
And city streets
Grown dark and hot with eager multitudes
Hurrying homeward whither respite waits.
But who will seek me at nightfall?
Light fading where the chimneys cut the sky;
Footsteps that pass,
Nor tarry at my door.
And far away,
Behind the row of crosses, shadows black
Stretch out long arms before the smouldering sun.
But who will give me my children?
A small selection of Vera Brittain’s work.
Buy Vera Brittain’s books: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK
Sources and for more information and the work of Vera Brittain: First World War Poets and Prose
Thank you for dropping in today and I hope you will join me tomorrow for the last in this short series…Sally
Very sad,,, wars always have such far-reaching consequences for so many not just those who fight x
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With you on that Carol…♥♥
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So terribly sad, Sally. My heart aches for Vera and your grandmother and all those who waited at home and lost loved ones. As well as those young soldiers who never made it home. These poems are so touching. I’m glad Robbie included the link in her review, so I could head over and listen. ❤
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I agree Diana and of course it was compounded by the Spanish Flu which killed an estimated 18 million worldwide.. a dreadful time in so many ways… ♥
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I didn’t even think of that. The stress and suffering and grief is almost incomprehensible.
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♥♥
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Your reading of this wonderful poem is so beautiful and clear like bells. It has me in tears.
The last line in each stanza drives the pain of the women home.
I can feel deep family bonds in the way you tell about your grandfather , he will always be remembered in family’s hearts. Very important I think.
Miriam
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Thank you Miriam, a generation of young men lost and young women left behind.. the side of conflict that is not recognised enough. He will be remembered.. ♥
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Sally, a moving and tender post and it was special to hear you talk with such love and warmth about your grandparents. It is tragic that your grandfather died just days before the end of the war. Like others here I must admit to not knowing of Vera Brittain’s poetry – something I will rectify this year. hugs xx ❤️
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Thank you Annika… it had a long term impact on both my grandmother and my mother’s lives and to be able to visit her father’s grave in her 80s for the first time was something very special. ♥♥
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I can only try to imagine what an incredibly emotional time it must have been for her to see her father’s grave after all those years. So much pain borne by the beloved of those lost in battle. ❤️🤗
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♥♥
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Vera Brittain has been a hero of mine ever since I read A Testament of Youth. A chilling poem. War affects everyone, not just those who fought.
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I agree Darlene..and she certainly did a great deal for women’s empowerment.. hugsxx
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Thank you, Sally!!
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♥♥
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Beautifully read, Sally.
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Thank you Mary..♥
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When I was growing up, people referred to maiden aunts. I hadn’t a clue at the time what they meant, but of course there were so many women after the war unable to find a man to love or to raise a child with. It must have been so hard for these women, denied the affection we take for granted. Many thanks for this, Sally. I’ve heard of Vera Brittain’s Testament of Youth and I’ll go across to Amazon now and buy a copy. xx
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Wonderful thanks very much Alex..♥♥
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The heartbreak in her words are so moving. There was too much loss.
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Far too much Denise.. a whole generation impacted on all sides of the conflict.. xxx
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What a great idea, Sally. I’ll be reading it.
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Thanks Jacqui..x
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Thank you, Sally. Vera’s work is timeless. (Sadly mourning loved ones lost in war is not out of style)
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Very true John. we seem to learn little as the generations repeat past failures.. hugsx
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You would think there would be some learning out of all of that.
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♥
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Such a moving poem Sally, thank you for sharing. For the next couple of days “Flanders Fields” will be repeating itself in my head. We had to memorize this John McCrae poem in fourth grade, and it remains with and haunts me still.
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Thanks Dorothy.. another amazing example of how stoic and creative poets can be..hugsx
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I am not familiar with Vera Britain, but her poem is very expressive. The line, “Behind the row of crosses, shadows black…” brings such a visual! Thank you for sharing, Sally!
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Thanks very much Jan.. haunting…hugsxx
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I don’t think I’d heard of Vera Britain before. Thank you for introducing her to me, Sally.
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One of the few female war poets and delighted to share Liz..hugsx
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A lovely poem, Sally. Vera Britain was a remarkable woman, and her spirit lived on in her daughter – Baroness Shirley Williams – who also led an influential life.
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Quite Clive.. an inspiring woman in many ways…
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So moving! So many losses in a young life. What a woman. Thanks for sharing, Sally. Hugs 💕🙂
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Thanks Harmony…hugsx
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How lovely, thanks for this. Time for reflection about those who gave so much for us.
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Delighted to share Jane…hugsx
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So touching. Thanks for sharing, Sally! Have a nice (rest of the) day. xx Michael
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Thanks Michael and you too my friend..hugsxx
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Reblogged this on OPENED HERE >> https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
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Thank you, Sally, for sharing this compelling podcast. I did not know Vera Britain and Terence has just bought me Testament of Youth by Vera Brittain.
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Wow Robbie what a coincidence.. a compelling read and Vera was ahead of her time..hugsx
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A beautiful classic, heartfelt telling Sal. ❤
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Thanks Debby a woman who stood her ground..♥
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The best kind! ❤
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♥
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