Jan's Poem

Today, I am taking part in a reading of poetry written about War. Ineviatably this subject leads to the poets of WW1, such as Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon. But their poems are so angry and bitter, with some justification. Being ordered to charge across 400 meters of open country into prepared and well protected machine gun posts will do that to you. I was looking for a poem that without waving the flag too much, left you with some feeling of hope. I had just about given up when I read Jan's poem and I thought this is what I've been looking for.

Jan. I would like to use your poem to end my presentation. If I don't hear frrom you, I will take it that you have given me permission amd it got lost somewhere.

John Dullighan

Humility

John, I am humbled beyond words. I wrote the poem on Veterans' Day as a "thank you" to all of you for your service and the Code of Honor by which you served and by which you continue to live.

I would be honored for you to use the poem.

Thank you. And as always,

Semper fi,

Jan

Jan's Poem

Jan:

Your poem got many comments at the reading and the concensus was that it held it's own against the best of the WW1 poets, like Sassoon and Wilfred Owen, who was killed 90 years ago, last November 5.

I found the last line difficult to read but I managed it.

John

WW1 Poets

SUICIDE in the TRENCHES by Siegfried Sassoon

I knew a simple soldier boy
Who grinned at life in empty joy,
Slept soundly through the lonesome dark,
And whistled early with the lark.

In winter trenches, cowed and glum,
With crumps and lice and lack of rum,
He put a bullet through his brain.
No one spoke of him again.

You smug-faced crowds with kindling eye
Who cheer when soldier lads march by,
Sneak home and pray you’ll never know
The hell where youth and laughter go.

A 'crump" is a small caliber shell, just big enough to kill or maim you. The constant fear, especially of being maimed sometimes resulted in men opting for the certainty of a 'clean' death instead of being left horribly burned and maimed. Sailors on ships attacked by kamikazis off Okinawa had a similar reaction. It wasn't common but it happened. In the words of the song, song, "Never knew there were worse things than dying.

The British services were known for giving the troops rum (180 proof) before sending them into action. The Royal Navy only gave up their daily rum ration, sometime in the 60s, How much was it......3 3/4 ounces of 180 proof rum. Enough to take your breath away and make your cheeks suck in. You can buy it here in North America but you have to go to Canada to get it. Uncle doesn't think we're big enough boys to handle it down here.