Lamentations
Siegfried Sassoon
I found him in the guard-room at the Base.
From the blind darkness I had heard his crying
And blundered in. With puzzled, patient face
A sergeant watched him; it was no good trying
To stop it; for he howled and beat his chest.
And, all because his brother had gone west,
Raved at the bleeding war; his rampant grief
Moaned, shouted, sobbed, and choked, while he was kneeling
Half-naked on the floor. In my belief
Such men have lost all patriotic feeling.
This poem makes me cry every time. Those brothers, the love, the duty, the horror of war and the distant observer who cannot understand the sacrifice.
I sit here in my lovely house with my lovely dogs and write. I go to work and I buy lipstick. I think about lots of things and have causes and am passionate about all of them. I can be like this because there are and were men and women, braver than I ever could be, who leave and left their families and their homes.
I will never understand the bravery and sacrifice of these people but I am grateful for it every day. I owe them everything I have.
My brother, incidently, is a soldier in Afghanistan right now. He is the bravest man I know. I can’t imagine what he has seen, not just there but everywhere, all the heartache and destruction. He doesn’t say a word about it. I think that is part of it for him. He sees that and faces that so we do not have to. That is what all those brave servicemen and women do. I don’t have the words to express how deeply I feel about it.
Poppy, good morning.
You do indeed have the words and you say it very well.
This is another day for quite reflection, specially for those of us who served on one of the forces.
This is Armistice day, and yet we still make war.
Will we, the human race, ever learn.
I hear the toll daily, I pray your brother returns safely, as I do for all our people.
Love and warm hugs,
Paul.
Poppy, I hope your brother comes home safely. My friend is in Afghanistan too, hopefully they are keeping one another safe.
People were, and are, so brave.
Poppy, I’ll keep your brother in my thoughts. It is a brave and selfless thing he’s doing. Thank you.
Paul’s right, you do have the words, and you use them exceptionally well. Patriotism manifests in many forms, and obviously it runs in your family.
Thanks Poppy, I can’t imagine what it is like for those of you who have family and close friends out there, but I will pray for them, and for you folks waiting for them to return.
Sometimes it seems as though there will never be enough words, enough thanks, for the sacrifices they made and still make today. You express it beautifully Poppy – I will keep your brother in my thoughts.
We share this day, England and America. It is your Remembrance Day, it is our Veteran’s Day. I am glad we share it, glad we have shared it since Armistice Day long long ago. It reminds me that the borders of a country are not more important than justice and the longing to set wrongs right. In every country on this planet, there are families who wait for their loved ones to lay down their guns and come home.
I will pray for your brother’s safety today and always, and pray, too, for the laying down of guns everywhere.
Thank you so much for this post Poppy. We all owe them so much.
You must be so proud of your brother. He will be in my thoughts for his safe return to you.
Love,
Ronnie
xx
I watched the Canadian troops in Afghanistan celebrating Remembrance Day this morning on television. I will think of your brother over there, alongside our brave Canadian men and women.
Hugs,
Hermione
Thank you for the responses. I feel guilty for mentioning my brother. I love him and miss him but what I feel is nothing compared to all the wives, husbands and children of servicemen and women.
And, as Hermione rightly says, all our brave servicemen and women stand shoulder to shoulder. We remember them all.
I hope that your brother completes his tour and returns from Afghanistan safely.
Thinking of all the service personnel, past and present.
Prefectdt
Thank you for presenting this poignant poem, Poppy, on this Remembrance Day. I send my heartfelt thoughts and prayers for your brothers safe return. He and his compatriots are truly amazing people. They are owed a debt that will never be able to be repaid.
You shouldn’t feel guilty for mentioning your brother, Poppy. Just because he’s not the only one doesn’t mean you don’t miss him and worry about him just as much as everyone else worries about their family and friends who are out there, or that you should feel guilty for saying so.
Quite right, Viola. England expects every man to do his duty, but it would be unfair and jolly bad form if his sister weren’t allowed to be concerned for his welfare and say so.
Bravo. My deepest respect goes to the families of those who arm themselves and serve their countries. They sacrifice without choice and bravely face each new day, with all its mundane tasks, feeling acutely the absence of their loved ones, and concern for their welfare. Patriotic indeed.
E.
Beautifully put, Ephemera.