In fifty years, when peace outshines
Remembrance of the battle lines,
Adventurous lads will sigh and cast
Proud looks upon the plundered past.
On summer morn or winter's night,
Their hearts will kindle for the fight,
Reading a snatch of soldier-song,
Savage and jaunty, fierce and strong;
And through the angry marching rhymes
Of blind regret and haggard mirth,
They'll envy us the dazzling times
When sacrifice absolved our earth.
Some ancient man with silver locks
Will lift his weary face to say:
'War was a fiend who stopped our clocks
Although we met him grim and gay.'
And then he'll speak of Haig's last drive,
Marvelling that any came alive
Out of the shambles that men built
And smashed, to cleanse the world of guilt.
But the boys, with grin and sidelong glance,
Will think, 'Poor grandad's day is done.'
And dream of lads who fought in France
And lived in time to share the fun.
Notes
http://www.anzacs.net/PoemSongbook.htm
for Audio of this poem
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Comments
1 - 7 of 7
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The rhyme and rhythm of this poem was just about perfect! A very good poem.. Expressive words.. I loved it. You're very talented, but I'm sure you don't need me to tell you that. Awesome write!
-Kayla -
Very good poem. Yeah I think all the people who died for there country deserve the respect to be remembered. Even the ones from the opposite countries I guess. Anyway a enjoyable poem. Peace <3
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This poem was excellent. I normally don't read war poems cause they just depress me, but this one was really very dear to you isn't it? It was very heartfelt and poignant. I loved it. Great job and never stop writing
much love
heather -
This is a very great and touching piece to be written by a war soilder... always hold a special place in my heart for the
war poets. This poem is especially Truthful. . We are a very privaleged generation
whose own children have not had to face such desperate and
terrible times.
Edited on Nov 11, 9:37 because ''. -
Sassoon was one of the lucky ones who survived, yet maybe that luck was misplaced as twenty years on, those that fought and survived the first world war had to watch their sons march off to fight another one, knowing full well the horrors that would be faced.
A good poem, although persdonally I find the metre 'uncomfortable' maybe because I prefer Owen and Graves and the other WW1 poets rather than Sassoon -
I have the greatest appreciation for war veterans. I have the utmost respect for people who fight for this country, who fight for freedom and justice. I truly enjoyed this poem and I feel that it certainly does a decent, if not downright good job of really paying them hommage. It is important for people to know about the experiences of the soldiers who gave their lives, and those who risked them. Thank You for the lovely write. Good Luck.
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I always reserve a special place in my heart for the
war poets. This poem is especially poignant. It was not
until I did some research on the First World War in France
[helping my son with his homework] that I realised just what
those men went through. We are a very privaleged generation
whose own sons have not had to face such desperate and
terrible times. Whoever posted this, THANK YOU.
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