Remembrance Sunday 2023
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This poem started life after seeing the "Poppy Wave" installed on Plymouth Hoe in 2017, but over the years, since being in Sark and wiht recent events in Ukraine and Gaza has changed, as our memories and remembering also changes.... Remembered
I don’t remember The war But I can’t forget The beauty of the Poppy Wave At sunset And gazing on the thousand names The ones who ne’er came back Ever remembered On cold bronze plaque
I don’t remember. The war But I can’t forget How afraid my mother said she was As she prayed That the Doodlebug would fly on by As its engine’s drone filled the sky
I don’t remember. The war But I can’t forget How my grandfather never talked That we never really knew Of how the shrapnel ripped his flesh That made him walk askew.
I don’t remember The war But I can’t forget How Dad said adrenaline surged As they stormed the Suez shore Urged, as he reached out to his friend Who cried out Arm torn asunder Under fire, petrified At the reality of war
I can remember The war And won’t forget How mothers waved With brave face and forced smiles As husbands sailed off To Falkland Isles Of burning ships and scattered boats Of victorious politician’s Empty quotes.
I can remember The war And won’t forget Wooten Bassett’s silent streets Flowers strewn, crowds shoulder to shoulder Weeping, as they came to meet Dead soldier after dead soldier
I can remember The war And won’t forget A child’s tear stained face On a T V screen As refugees stream From the place that was home Now torn apart by guided bomb
I still remember The wars And can’t forget As missiles rain down In Ukraine and Sudan Israel and Gaza, Yemen, Iran. Syria, Ethiopia, Libya and Chad, Myanmar, Columbia, Afghanistan, Iraq The list seems endless There are so many more Lives torn apart By the horrors of war
I will remember, and can’t forget The men of Sark Who now have passed Names set in stone Or coloured glass The ones who served Who knew the cost Returned with memories Of comrades lost We will remember And can’t forget The men we owe A lifetime’s debt.
I will remember And can’t forget That we were born to create That love is far stronger than hate That all life demands respect That still there is hope Beyond the sunset Lest we forget
©David Stolton |
