Poppies and Baby's Breath

Young men left all they had known
foxhole faith so far from home.
There is no room for ambivalence
while mortars steal your innocence.
 
Mustard gas and blistered lungs
dying heroes left unsung.
Doughboys hum pack up your troubles
while their friends lie under rubble.

So on this day filled with elevens
pray that all lay down their weapons.
Peace it splinters and decays,
our broken world in disarray.

Bow your heads for those now gone
and hope today we might move on
past the carnage, revenge and death,
hold tight to poppies and baby's breath.

Reviews

[Baby Ricochet]

WWI. The epic of Epic catastrophes. You can't even say it was of biblical proportions because it dwarfs everything in the bible. (Anything that might have actually happened anyway) WWI only plays second fiddle to it's b*****d off spring WWII in sheer scope of global insanity and yet their are many who seem to have forgotten about it. That's just wrong.

[icelandicblue]

So true...the further in time we get away from it the dimmer the memories. All wars are terrible but the world had never seen anything like it before. It was said to be the war to end all wars but as you said WWII took its place. Armistice Day, Nov. 11 came out of WWI so I thought I'd write about that. Both my grandfathers fought in it and my dad fought in WWII and yet what I know of both primarily comes from books. Thanks so much for reading and commenting on this one. Loved your "b*****d offspring" comment.

[Baby Ricochet]

WWI and the occupation of Iraq have several parallels. Those who started both grossly miscalculated what they were unleashing, both quickly spiraled out of control, there was no real victory for any side and they both spawned b*****d offspring including all out war on civilians and genocide and the most messed up part about it all is, it's going to happen again. Sooner or later I believe the US is going to get sucked into a ground war along side Israel against a massive private army much like ISL who rose from ISL's ashes. All we need is another terrorist type event on US soil and a brutally hawkish administration combined with an assault on Israel and it's Armageddon in the middle east with the US leading the charge. Mark my words, this is very, very likely to happen.

[icelandicblue]

I agree with you. Many years ago I was told by someone the end of the world would come out of a war in the middle east. We never learn.

[s y e]

Man Anne, this one hit home, you just say it like it is, the emotion in this poem is so evident. Your poetry is so unique and beautifully written no matter the topic, what an amazing poem. I second what Baby has said for sure.

"Mustard gas and blistered lungs
dying heroes left unsung."

These lines made the poem for me, imagery is so vivid... Wow, I need to breathe.........

[icelandicblue]

Thanks Noodle! Good to see you.

[AprilRN1210]

you have mixed gentle, heartfelt emotion with stark, raw, graphic tragedy beautifully.. it is eye-opening and affecting.. you have a warm, caring soul and such a talented pen.. lovely tribute and sentiment..

[icelandicblue]

Thank you April, you are always so kind.

[AprilRN1210]

it is always a pleasure.. you're welcome.

[Troy Henson]

As the world remembers you have written quite the tribute. Touching, real and emotionsl. Thank you.

Troy

[icelandicblue]

Thank you again Troy. I appreciate you taking the time to read and comment.

[Dilan Gunawardana]

A very fitting and poignant tribute for Remembrance Day, nice work :)

[icelandicblue]

Thanks so much for your thoughts.

[Bright Ocean Star]

Ice, you've touched me deeply with this one. Veteran's Day has become deeply personal of late. I felt this one on so many levels. You are a master of rhyme scheme and meter. Your word choice is impeccable, and the imagery is very vivid and beautiful. Thank you for this one, my friend. I'm glad I saved it until tonight to read. I'm so glad I didn't miss this one before the 11th of this month. Great write in every way!

[icelandicblue]

It is indeed a somber remembrance. I am happy you found it before the 11th. Thank you so much Bright Ocean Star.

[Ruth]

This packs a punch...seems only death is glorified...so saddening...beautifully voiced love and a poignant reminder of this time of year, sigh...so tragic xo

[icelandicblue]

Tragic it is. Thank you Poppy for your thoughts.

[Rene Salinas]

I find it curiously enchanting when a topic is spread around the Cafe and different writers imbue the topic with their inherit wisdom. I know absolutely nothing about soldiers and what it takes to even nentertain the idea of putting oneself on the line. So from the outset nothing but respect. I even decided to read a book "The things they cannot say" which impacted me so much it drove me to share my thoughts as well. Whichever way one would like to spin this they were there I was not. Some of them fought for ideals, for the illusion to promoting life. I say illusion becuase there is always a silent war behind the scenes at times more cruel than the ones we get to know about. But I think it is in the element of respect and appreciation that I stand for.

Thankyou

[Rita L. Sev]

"...And hope today we might move on..." - Wouldn't that be wonderful? A moving and thoughtful tribute, Blue.

[icelandicblue]

Thank you once again Rita. You always take the time to read my work and I appreciate it.

[Creepy Swine Guy]

I particularly love the first and last stanzas and wonder how well they might stand on their own as a two stanza poem. I'm just spitballing here. The middle two stanzas aren't bad at all, it's just to me, first and lest feel so strong that they overpower the middle two.

[icelandicblue]

I do agree that the first and last stanzas are the strongest. They feel more natural per the subject matter and the rhyme/meter. For whatever reason I always feel compelled to write at least 4 stanzas and perhaps in this piece it shows. I'll have to ruminate on that for a bit. It's so good to see you "out and about!"

[willweb]

What a beautiful and humbling piece you have written Icelandicblue. It is so easy to forget as we go through the hustle and bustle of our daily lives. Thank you for bringing this forward in our minds. This was an outstanding poem.

[icelandicblue]

Thank you willweb, I appreciate that.