Ode to Wilfred Owen

Your life was snuffed out,

while still blooming with green shoots,

though your words, eternal,

lingers on,

stronger than any conflict,

more inspirational than mere poems.

Your youthful angst

you've captured,

like prisoners of war

in cocoons of brilliance -

Where have your muses gone?

Please ask them to visit us too.

We'll take them to that place of death

where inspired flowers now bloom,

still remembering. 

Author's Note

A special memorial service will be held for Wilfred Owen, who died, today, a 100 years ago. A bugle will be played, which he took from a German soldier. For those who do not know him - he wrote some of the most amazing poetry ever written. He was killed one week before the end of the First World War, aged 25. My favourite poem - "Anthem for doomed youth".

Reviews

[Richard🖌]

Such a beautiful Free Verse homage you've composed and presented, Syr,
Of this young burgeoning poet cut so short in his career by death at war.
You've selected a most tenderly, deeply-touching piece by Owen for your favorite … mine is "Miners", as wayyy back in ancestral history, my kin were Welsh miners, who lived destitute, but brave, lives.
As all fine Free Verse pieces, your syntax, metaphor, imagery, capitalization, and line-breaks are spot-on … punctuation is done quite well, with but a few issues; a larger font size, and stand-alone verses would best suit quality, lessening the run-on feel (to my mind's-eye), and L3-L4 should be:
"th(r)ough your words, eternal,
lingers on". (his life)
Or:
"though your words, eternal,
'linger' on". (his words)
Whatever, this is a powerfully emotional moment created upon the page, any passionate poetess or poet will certainly envy and be deeply moved by.

Thank you, Dear Poet, most humbly and gratefully for sharing your fine effort here … truly enjoyed! ⁓ Richard 🍃

PS: Gene recommended your work, and I look forward to the concerted effort of a cowritten Sonnet … with great heart. : )

[SleeplessVolcano]

Richard!
Your words and comments are encouraging - Have to rush to giving a lesson on simple and compound sentences...lol....it is probably a horrible thing for a poet to say, but grammar is not my favourite part of English! I'd much rather just let inspiration flow freely!

[Richard🖌]

Well, for an artist who has to depend on grammar to accurately communicate their thoughts, feelings, visions, and emotions, I'd say that's a rather unusually cavalier outlook, but I guess poetry takes on all kinds of outlooks.
I always thought proper grammar enhanced the free flow of inspiration, whereas poor grammar simply makes confusion for the reader … just thinkin' out loud.

[Papaya]

Thank you for sharing his story. I did not know.
Your poem is a beautiful tribute.

[Lorry]

A beautiful tribute to the words and life of another example of the true and very real losses of war, that echoes through the ages, eternal.
Taken like so many, too soon.

[Chris Shaw]

A wonderful poet who really captured the futility of warfare. Killed serving his country. One wonders what he may have gone on to achieve. A bright star though in war poetry. Anthem for Doomed Youth, a favourite of mine too. Blow bugle, blow in his memory.

Chris