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.

[Sheila Kline]

The correlation of poppies and baby's breath is so very appropriate to give homage to our brave veterans! May we ever remember them for their service and sacrifice to allow us to continue to embrace the freedom we have. Yes, bow your heads for those now gone with hope they shall ever be respected for bravery and heroism!
A very nice tribute to Veteran's Day!!

[icelandicblue]

Thank you so much Sheila!

[Matching Socks]

A very moving poem and so timely. Next week (Nov 11) is Remembrance Day in Canada.
A day to remember those who have fallen. Beautiful but sad...

[icelandicblue]

Thank you. We too remember the day in the states. We call it Veteran's Day.

[emmajoy]

'War is Man's fate and last breath...' wrote some wise sage a billion years ago, Tis true. Man will go on warring until we're all blown into space. All the pride, all the deaths, all the insanity useless.. heartbreaking.

A superb piece of writing, tear-tugging, and, again: heart.breaking.

[icelandicblue]

Thank you emmajoy. Sadly I think that quote might just be a prophecy.

[emmajoy]

You probably know how i feel, how i agree.. sad, more than..

[therisa]

Sadly, Icelandicblue, much was learned, how the brain handles stressful situations, as the soldiers developed mental illnesses, like PTSD. But we haven't learn a blasted thing, as young men and women, are sent to fight wars, they have no business fighting.

[icelandicblue]

Thank you so much for reading and commenting.

[therisa]

Your welcome, Icelandicblue.

[MomzillaNC]

Again and again and again and again, ad nauseam -- since time immemorial. Why will humanity never learn.

[icelandicblue]

It is truly a never ending cycle. Thank you so much for your thoughts.

[MomzillaNC]

You're welcome.

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

WAR, what is it good for? Absolutely nothing.

That song is now playing in my head. I could never been in the military, fighting wars to feed our leaders egos and greed.

[icelandicblue]

I have issues with authority myself but I commend all those who give and gave so much for their ideals. Thanks so much for your thoughts and sticking that song in my head!

[The Rock And Roll Cowboy(REBEL WITH A CAUSE)]

Oh I commend them to, I also feel sorry for them when they give their lives for false reasons of protecting our freedoms. You are very welcome.

[Pryde Foltz]

Wow wow wow … it's a classic. Can't pick a favourite stanza but two and four are close.

[icelandicblue]

I thank you very much Pryde!

[Lydia Shutter]

A beautifully written tribute to veterans of all wars. Veterans should be honored every day of the year, not just on November 11th. They risk everything for us. The rhyming and rhythm, in your poem is excellent. Lydia

[icelandicblue]

I agree, thanks for the review.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i do pray they will all lay down their weapons...
and that the Universal Soldier will become a soldier of peace.
beautiful poem, Anne....just beautiful.

[icelandicblue]

Thank you jacob. We can still hope.

[Lyn Anderson]

I like poems of this nature, that honour the sacrifice and the soldier, and acknowledge the horror of war. Why some people feel we cannot have empathy for the soldier while still holding out hope for peace I will never understand.

[icelandicblue]

I agree KL on both counts. Thanks so much for your comment.