ray pool

NEEDING MAYBE A TITLE IN LATIN

by ray pool

Sunday 10th November 2019 4:57 pm

But once a year

out of obscurity glory flares

in decisive moments every year

far from where bullets tore at the fabric

flags are hoisted high

to a grave whisper of tattered dreams.

No questions asked of why,

better to do and die.

Then the fabric is once more re-stitched

at small shrines again

tributes dusted down, candles lit

trying to make some sense of it,

why wars can always be justified.

We mumble to our inner selves

Thine is the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory

our men.

🌷(7)

◄ ON THE QE2 1977

STRANGER THAN FICTION ►

Comments

raypool

Fri 15th Nov 2019 20:43

Indeed, Po. Perhaps horror is the thing we fear most and keep on repeating it. That seems bizarre I know but we kill what we fear don't we? At the present time people are afraid of being overwhelmed by the unknown and social instability. The politicians will sort it out no doubt.

Ray

raypool

Fri 15th Nov 2019 12:20

Jennifer, you are right to honour those who died for whatever reason was valid at the time and that is indeed what most of us feel compelled to do. In a sense it is all we can do. However in the poem I wanted to bring out the sense of futility of the wasting of life and how a yearly observance of it just becomes ultimately an institutionalized response. I think anger would be more effective, instead of the subduing of emotion which often happens at crowd gatherings and indeed at church services. I may be wrong, but these are simply my feelings. I intended no disrespect.

Hi Jon, I'm glad my effort was worthwhile; it's not a subject to be taken lightly, so I gave it my best shot. Thanks.

Po, I have stuck my neck out here I know, but it is after all a site for discussion, and I have subverted that last line to introduce an element of national sensibility into it. We probably unconsciously are drawn to a sense of loss more focussed where our own kind are killed. Perhaps we are closer to understanding other cultures nowadays, and how precious is life globally. I believe there is a sort of tribal element to conceptions of The Empire which were greatly influential at the time. Are we to learn or just repeat our ghastly misconceptions of supremacy and marginalizations which result in ethnic cleansing and the like?

Thanks for your like, Jon.

I'll get my coat.

Jon

Thu 14th Nov 2019 19:24

Hi Ray
Thought provoking. The stunning second stanza sums it up for me.
So well thought out and written
Jon

jennifer Malden

Thu 14th Nov 2019 16:44

If we didn't even bother to turn out surely it would mean we didn't care a damn? turning out will never help the pain and sorrow of those injured, or that of families who have lost members, but it at least shows that we remember and are grateful for what they did. Or not?

Jennifer

raypool

Tue 12th Nov 2019 14:38

Thanks for the likes, Joshua and Dorothy.

Just to be clear folks, this was not exactly a celebration of an occasion as the whole procedure hinges on sacrifices made in the name of a cause. If people feel they should show solidarity to that it does nothing to stem the lunacy of killing and being killed often for motives of the furthering of territorial objectives, but for those who feel a resonance emotionally once a year that it what is catered for with the showing of poppies. I could go into more depth but this isn't really the time and place in my opinion for more dissension to ensue.
In particular Brian, we can indeed go in groups to support any cause and publicly voice our opinions, and that would be more significant than a mere online presence, faceless and fairly impotent. I don't quite see that is hypocritical in itself but if you feel yourself as qualifying that is entirely your affair. I appreciate your thoughts Hannah and Martin.

Ray

<Deleted User> (18980)

Mon 11th Nov 2019 11:35

Perhaps like everything else we should go online, then we wouldn't have to bother to go out in all weathers to pay some sort of homage. Then, as no-one can see us at our computer screens, we can soon drop it altogether.

Not me though...I enjoy the hypocrisy of turning out.

Martin Elder

Mon 11th Nov 2019 10:44

I agree with Hannah in this one Ray. It is indeed brilliant. It reminds of a church not far away from where I live that has some tatty looking regimental flags that look as if they would disintegrate if anybody touched them
Fabulous mate

<Deleted User> (18118)

Sun 10th Nov 2019 17:07

This is a brilliant piece.
Once a year we are taken into this realm of suffering and loyalty and heroics, with as you say, few questions as to why.

Hannah

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