ARMISTICE?

ARMISTICE?

A Poem by alanwgraham
"

We are about to remember the centenary of the first war. What have we learned?

"

Armistice?

the eleventh hour 

the eleventh day

the eleventh month

1918


the last bullet fired

the final shell exploded

the final bomb dropped

the last gas released


the war to end all wars ended

 

soldiers on both sides 

sons, brothers, fathers, husbands

rose from their trenches

put aside rifles and helmets

stood as brothers in the low sun, 

marveled at the silence,

listened to the birds rejoicing

pondered the meaning of it all

 

out of the silence came a voice, 

then another and another

speaking in all the tongues of the earth

voices from the future calling,


sons, daughters, grandchildren, yet to be


from the beaches of Dunkirk and Normandy

the cellars of Dresden, 

the gas chambers of Auschwitz

the markets of Hiroshima, 

the foxholes of Korea

the paddy fields of Viet Nam, 

the jungles of Congo

the killing fields of Cambodia,

the charnel houses of Rwanda

the villages of Iraq, 

the cities of Syria


a babel of voices, speaking as one

the message clear


IT WAS ALL IN VAIN!

 

© 2018 alanwgraham


My Review

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Featured Review

Exactly what the entire protest scene in the sixties was trying to say.
Sadly, it seems, sometimes, that as long as people insist upon giving in to greed and prejudice, there will be war.
I know a guy who says wars are natural, good for population control.
I just can't be so...whatever he is. Anyone got a word? All I can think of is the life left behind by those killed to satisfy the emotions of their "leaders", or to satisfy their land lust.
The native people here say that you cannot own things that are eternal, like land, rocks,etc.
Yet people fight each other for wealth or real estate all the time. Very sad.
On the bright side, you wrote of it well, Alan!

Posted 6 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

alanwgraham

6 Years Ago

Thanks Angel. I have struggled to get my head straight on how we remember the dead and how we relate.. read more
angel

6 Years Ago

Don't mention it, Alan. I am also a huge Dylan fan...his lyrics are to folk music what Lennon/McCart.. read more



Reviews

Very powerful, truthful write. I enjoyed reading that :)


Posted 5 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

alanwgraham

5 Years Ago

Many thanks Cimmy. Why does it keep on happening? The common man and woman knows the futility of wa.. read more
cimmy wuv xxxooo

5 Years Ago

I guess unfortunately thats what it has come to.
Alan,
You are right . . . there are no wars to end wars. Not as long as character and circumstance define history (J. Barzun, historian).
I think I will post a poem that reflects om youth and the Viet Nam war.

Thanks for sharing this.

Tom

Posted 5 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

alanwgraham

5 Years Ago

Many thanks Tom. I always find Armistice a difficult event to know how to react to. There are so man.. read more
Great poem with a great point made at the end. Sadly for all those innocent souls who had to perish due to governments, wars, the deeds others say and they had to act on. While they sit in their Ivory Towers like gutton arseholes that they are.

Posted 6 Years Ago


alanwgraham

6 Years Ago

Thanks for reading and your strong words about them men that sit back and watch.
Take care.read more
Onlyme

6 Years Ago

your welcome. :)
Honoring the dead can be done in word but those words must be coupled with deeds.



Posted 6 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

alanwgraham

6 Years Ago

You have made a very important point Cherrie.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
Regar.. read more
There can be no sense made out of nonsense.. a great write Alan, apt and most timely... unfortunately, I am not sure the message got across..... Neville

Posted 6 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

alanwgraham

6 Years Ago

Thanks Neville. I've always struggled with my feelings about how we celebrate our remembrance of the.. read more
Neville

6 Years Ago

I think you got the message across much better than many Alan and good on ya... N
I am at a loss, I wish I knew why history repeats itself when we should be learning and growing and finding a way...

Posted 6 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

alanwgraham

6 Years Ago

Thanks Ana. Yes, it is hard to comprehend. Sometimes it seems to be evil men who get into power but .. read more
The centenary of the first war. One must surely swallow hard just to get through this. A commanding read, from the first verse to the last, Alan...and so well articulated. It really was all in vain, wasn't it?

Posted 6 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

alanwgraham

6 Years Ago

Thanks Kelly. The thing that I think we must hang on to is that the ordinary folk of this world don.. read more
Kelly Scheppers

6 Years Ago

The enormity of your words are striking. I hope I expressed that in reviewing this! You are most we.. read more
I'm sorry to read your message & find how much I was thinking the same thing before reaching your conclusion! War seems to be constant these days, rather than some discrete event that can be made into a "holiday" like Veteran's Day (Nov 11 here). That's why I forget about "celebrating" any past wars . . . I can't even remember all the shootings & bombings we've had in 2018! I love the way you detail things here, especially the second-to-last stanza. This is your usual wry wit I enjoy so much (((HUGS))) Fondly Margie

Posted 6 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

alanwgraham

6 Years Ago

Thanks Margie. This topic is one I've always found difficult to sort out my feelings on. On one hand.. read more
barleygirl

6 Years Ago

This is the time of year when I naturally hibernate, so I'm checking out of news & facebook with our.. read more
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Gee
Hi Alan, not much learnt in 100 years, although with instant access to all things global there is no chance the youth of today sacrificing themselves, and to be fair, who could blame them for not doing so.
My daughter was born on 11th November 2000, I always refer to her as my armistice child.
A thought provoking, well written piece.

Posted 6 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

alanwgraham

6 Years Ago

Thanks for reading and commenting Gee. You would like to think that in the future war might be seen .. read more
Exactly what the entire protest scene in the sixties was trying to say.
Sadly, it seems, sometimes, that as long as people insist upon giving in to greed and prejudice, there will be war.
I know a guy who says wars are natural, good for population control.
I just can't be so...whatever he is. Anyone got a word? All I can think of is the life left behind by those killed to satisfy the emotions of their "leaders", or to satisfy their land lust.
The native people here say that you cannot own things that are eternal, like land, rocks,etc.
Yet people fight each other for wealth or real estate all the time. Very sad.
On the bright side, you wrote of it well, Alan!

Posted 6 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

alanwgraham

6 Years Ago

Thanks Angel. I have struggled to get my head straight on how we remember the dead and how we relate.. read more
angel

6 Years Ago

Don't mention it, Alan. I am also a huge Dylan fan...his lyrics are to folk music what Lennon/McCart.. read more

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Added on October 26, 2018
Last Updated on October 27, 2018

Author

alanwgraham
alanwgraham

Scotland, United Kingdom



About
Married with three kids, I retired early from teaching physics but have always enjoyed mountains. In my forties I experienced a manic episode which kick-started a creative urge. I've written a novel .. more..

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