ARMISTICE?

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!

 

Reviews

[angel]

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!

[alanwgraham]

Thanks Angel. I have struggled to get my head straight on how we remember the dead and how we relate it to Bob Dylan's 'masters of war'. On thing is sure I don't think the common man would chose war.
Thanks for your great views on this.
Regards,
Alan

[angel]

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

[cimmy wuv xxxooo]

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

[alanwgraham]

Many thanks Cimmy. Why does it keep on happening? The common man and woman knows the futility of war!
All the best,
Alan

[cimmy wuv xxxooo]

I guess unfortunately thats what it has come to.

[kentuck14]

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

[alanwgraham]

Many thanks Tom. I always find Armistice a difficult event to know how to react to. There are so many issues around it! hanks for your own thoughts.
Regards,
Alan

[Onlyme]

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.

[alanwgraham]

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

[Onlyme]

your welcome. :)

[Cherrie Palmer]

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

[alanwgraham]

You have made a very important point Cherrie.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
Regards,
Alan

[Neville]

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

[alanwgraham]

Thanks Neville. I've always struggled with my feelings about how we celebrate our remembrance of the war. I 'm uneasy with how it seems to be the establishment and politicians that take the leading role when they tend to be the ones that stay at home while the common peole bear gthe brunt.

[Neville]

I think you got the message across much better than many Alan and good on ya... N

[Papaya]

I am at a loss, I wish I knew why history repeats itself when we should be learning and growing and finding a way...

[alanwgraham]

Thanks Ana. Yes, it is hard to comprehend. Sometimes it seems to be evil men who get into power but not always.
All the best,
Alan

[Kelly Scheppers]

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?

[alanwgraham]

Thanks Kelly. The thing that I think we must hang on to is that the ordinary folk of this world don't want war.
Thanks for your kind comments Kelly
Alan

[Kelly Scheppers]

The enormity of your words are striking. I hope I expressed that in reviewing this! You are most welcomed.

[barleygirl]

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

[alanwgraham]

Thanks Margie. This topic is one I've always found difficult to sort out my feelings on. On one hand we must remember those that died but then we know that the war masters never fight in the trenches. I don't think we will ever learn!
On that happy note - Our first taste of winter here.
All the best ,
Alan

[barleygirl]

This is the time of year when I naturally hibernate, so I'm checking out of news & facebook with our domestic violence peaking a week before congressional elections! I'll stay in my little paradise & not get hooked on that roiling anger *smile*

[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.

[alanwgraham]

Thanks for reading and commenting Gee. You would like to think that in the future war might be seen as an aberration but there is no sign of that coming. It is always the common man that is sent to give up his life.
Regards,
Alan