When death is closer than home..."It's a long way to Tipperary"

Each knew his fate... With the 11th of the 11th looming time to give this oldie an airing

"Its a long way to Tipperary..."

A single voice the silence pierced
to drift through cordite air,
to rise above the clouds of death
forlorn, tinged with despair.

"Its a long way to go..."

Along the trench more voices joined
a choir now on death row,
ironic that they sang of home
for their fate they all did know.

"Its a long way to Tipperary..."

Across the mire where no man lived
o'er blood and stench and gore,
their song fell onto enemy
and through each heart it tore.

"to the sweetest girl I know..."

They'd be no winners in this war
only those that better fared,
a whole generations blooming youth
wars horror brutally pared.

"goodbye Piccadily..."

The brave who sang that fateful day
brothers, fathers, uncles, sons,
would perish going "over the top"
Scythed down by chattering guns.

"Farewell Leicester square..."

Now fields abloom with blood red flowers
blue skies, and larks on high,
remember the wanton sacrifice
of those that came to fight and die.

"Its a long, long, way to Tipperary,
but my heart's right there"

Reviews

[Ken Simm.]

My subject is War, and the pity of War. The Poetry is in the pity.
Wilfred Owen

[Gee]

I will go have a butchers, not before time... the only reading I do is teletext. Thanks Ken

[Gee]

Dulce Et Decorum Est...guess some things need to be lived for the writing then not to trivialise the subject

[Ken Simm.]

I don't think you trivialised anything. That is why I quoted Owen. If you did then so did Owen and actually so did I if I can make so bold.http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/Ken%20Simm/1016782/

[Gee]

There are wee differences between you and I Ken, mainly you are both a skilled artist and writer whilst I dabble only half heartedly at the latter. This is born (e or not ?) in the piece of yours I have just finished reading.
I would imagine that you are also quite well read :)

[Gee]

S**t, born out....

[Ken Simm.]

Creative people are creative people. It is not a matter of degree I think. And I think the term half hearted cannot in any circumstances be applied to the above.

[Quickbeam]

Great and moving piece. A song of high spirits before going over the top.

[Gee]

Cheers....

[Julie McCarthy (juliesp..]

Love this
So clever
I really think this captures first and second world wars

[Gee]

Thank you kindly

[Ayvid N]

I just love this poem, like a song and I love the chorus line. In its pathos and story it reminds me so much of the Ameriican Civil War and my favorite book 'Gone with the wind'.

[Gee]

Probably telling you something you already know, "Its a long way to Tipperary" was a music hall favourite during world war one and , I think, was adopted by the troops as a favourite song.
Thank you Divya

[Ayvid N]

You are welcome :)

[Poetic Beauty]

War is bloody and brutal. Many die for what they believe is right. This sums it up very well and the imagery conveys the thought of this piece.

[Gee]

Thank you Beauty

[Island Hippy]

Aloha Gee, this is devastatingly sad and beautiful. As I moved along the trench it is thick with uncertainty of young boys thrust into battle. The song a symbol of comfort. Leading each verse with a line from the song, creates a great sense of atmosphere. Izzy

[Gee]

Thank you Izzy

[BBP]

I really loved this one. You managed to take the reader right to the battlefield. I love how you integrated the song so perfectly.

Really awesome write here.

[Gee]

Thanks Bev..

[Papaya]

Beautifully written Gee. Lots of heavy hearts today.

[Gee]

Indeed, a sobering day for all. However on a lighter note it is my beautiful daughters 16 th birthday today...... Thank you

[Coyote Poetry]

World war one. A bloody war.
"Now fields abloom with blood red flowers,
blue skies, and larks on high,
remember the wanton sacrifice,
of those that came to fight and die........ "
It is sad we forgot the old wars. The lesson of war should teach us to seek peace. It didn't. Thank you Gee for sharing the amazing poetry.
Coyote

[Gee]

Aye, man will never learn. Thank you Coyote

[Coyote Poetry]

I agree my friend and you are welcome.

[D Connolly]

So, I had to shed a few tears at this. Haunting and lovely. I like the story you've told. I love poetry that tells a story and doesn't make me guess at the meaning behind the words. This is so sad!

[Gee]

Thank you DC