Poets against war and militarism

http://judithpordon.tripod.com/poetry/id147.html ^ | ?? | Wilfred Owen (1893-1918)

[noyce]

Anthem for Doomed Youth

What passing-bells for these who die as cattle? Only the monstrous anger of the guns. Only the stuttering rifles' rapid rattle Can patter out their hasty orisons. No mockeries for them; no prayers nor bells, Nor any voice of mourning save the choirs, -- - The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells; And bugles calling for them from sad shires. What candles may be held to speed them all? Not in the hands of boys, but in their eyes Shall shine the holy glimmers of goodbyes. The pallor of girls' brows shall be their pall; Their flowers the tenderness of patient minds, And each slow dusk a drawing-down of blinds.

[Soaring Feather]

If you're a poet
you sure don't show it
poems must be formatted
something you're not good at...
Me thinks you're a Troll
without an American soul
You signed up today
well here's to you
you're on your way...

BYE BYE TROLL Poet
Be gone with your doggerel!!

[MeekOneGOP]

Typical 'post and run' Troll. German Troll week, I guess.

[VRWCmember]

Upon reading a pacifist's verse
Bemoaning all the worst
Of mankind's wars
And the incumbent horrors
Of pain and death and sorrow,
I couldn't wait until tomorrow
To tell you that poem really blows
And the dog ate mother's toes.

[VRWCmember]

Does anyone else remember this: Dave Barry Scams Poetry Contest

[Soaring Feather]

Oh no, the dog ate your mother's toes
well it goes to show
unshod toes upon being exposed
will wind up in some dog's nose....:-)

[MeekOneGOP]

There once was a man from Nantucket ...

[Soaring Feather]

I sure do!! It was a howl!!

[NeoCaveman]

Look we have homocidal maniacs who want to kill us. We are preventing them from succeeding. Maybe you would get it if 9/11 had happened on your soil. Then again maybe you wouldn't.

[Conspiracy Guy]

We Remember

We saw the look upon his face,
Through whispers he was told.
We knew he felt just what we felt,
We wouldn’t sit here cold.
We knew this time that we would act,
And not just turn our head.
This time we’d go and we’d go big,
We wouldn’t bomb some shed.
He called them faceless cowards,
He vowed we’ll hunt them down.
We watched as he spoke to us all,
Sincerely, not some clown.
His eyes assured us he’d not rest,
Until they paid the price.
Yes we’d turn over every stone,
Until they were on ice.
He warned the battle would be long,
That many would forget.
That some would say, let’s just move on,
Not him, his mind was set.
We backed him then, we back him now,
The fight must still go on.
We can’t back down, we can’t let up,
Until the threat is gone.
God Bless our troops as on they fight,
Each day for them we pray.
We thank them all, for all they do,
“They are the best”, we say.
We will support our President,
He’s proven he will stand.
We’ll vote for Bush this coming fall,
We will protect this land.

Conspiracy Guy 3/5/4

[Conspiracy Guy]

There is no reason in your opinion.

There now.

CG

[dighton]

Welcome to FreeRepublic.

Inspired by your profile, I make this musico-poetic offering.

[Conspiracy Guy]

ROTFLMAO

[Conspiracy Guy]

He wore on his head a big bucket.

[Conspiracy Guy]

Freedom


We Owe You

We owe you all for all you do,
You risk it all each day.
We’d like to send our deepest thanks,
To you we’d like to say.
You are our bravest and our best,
We’re proud of all of you.
You serve your country selflessly,
Your country knows this too.
So know that while you’re far away,
This nation backs your fight.
With your hard work and God’s Dear Grace,
This all will come out right.
So please stay safe and do your best,
Our hearts are with you there.
We hope you know that here back home,
The people really care.

Conspiracy Guy December 2003

[Conspiracy Guy]

Freedom

Freedom isn’t free you know,
It isn’t even cheap.
Many paid the highest price,
So freedom, we could keep.
Soldiers fought and soldiers died,
In many foreign lands.
In forest deep and thick with snow,
And even desert sands.
We fought at sea and in the air,
The battle rages still.
We must back our troops today,
And show we have the will.
To stay the course until it’s done,
And then again we’ll see.
That freedom still belongs to us,
But never is it free.

Conspiracy Guy 12/15/03

[aculeus]

Promptly moving these troll-initiated threads -- all of them -- to Chat is a good idea. They're beginning to bore some of us.

[BlueLancer]

Here's one back at ya ...

"Over the Hills and Far Away" - modern version;
(from SHARPE'S EAGLE)

Four thousand dollars on the drum,
For those who’ll volunteer to come
And enlist to fight the foe today,
Over the hills and far away.

O’er the hills, we will attack
Afghanistan and then Iraq;
George Bush commands and we obey,
Over the hills and far away.

When duty calls me, I must go
To stand and face another foe;
But part of me will always stray
Over the hills and far away.

O’er the hills, from sea to land,
Iraq, and then on to Iran;
George Bush commands and we obey,
Over the hills and far away.

If I should fall to fight no more,
As many comrades did before,
Then ask the pipes and drums to play
"Over the hills and far away".

O’er the hills, pro patria,
Iran and then Arabia;
George Bush commands and we obey,
Over the hills and far away.

Then fall in, lads, behind the drum,
With colours blazing like the sun,
Along the road to come what may,
Over the hills and far away.

O’er the hills we will advance,
Through Belgium, Germany, and France;
George Bush commands and we obey,
Over the hills and far away."

[BlueLancer]

Or try this one instead ...

Take the children and yourself
and hide out in the cellar.
By now the fighting will be close at hand.
Don't believe the church and state
And everything they tell you;
Believe in me, I'm with the High Command.

Can you hear me,
can you hear me running?
Can you hear me running,
can you hear me calling you?
Can you hear me,
can you hear me running?
Can you hear me running,
can you hear me calling you?

There's a gun and ammunition
just inside the doorway;
Use it only in emergency.
Better you should pray to God,
The Father and the Spirit,
Will guide you and protect from up here.

Can you hear me,
can you hear me running?
Can you hear me running,
can you hear me calling you?
Can you hear me,
can you hear me running?
Can you hear me running,
can you hear me calling you?

Swear allegiance to the flag,
Whatever flag they offer;
Never hint at what you really feel.
Teach the children quietly,
For someday sons and daughters
Will rise up and fight while we stood still.

Can you hear me,
can you hear me running?
Can you hear me running,
can you hear me calling you?
Can you hear me,
can you hear me running?
Can you hear me running,
can you hear me calling you?

Silent Running
(Mike and the Mechanics)

[NicknamedBob]

Owen, Wilfred, 1893-1918, English poet. Owen, who died on the French front in World War I, wrote of the horror and pity of war in verse that transfigured traditional meter and diction. Siegfried SASSOON published 24 of Owen's poems posthumously (1920).

Your poet was a soldier. Certainly he understood war's pain and futility.

But he served his country, and died in its service.

I don't think he meant we shouldn't fight. I think he meant we shouldn't die unmourned. And he wasn't.

[mhking]

You're entitled to your opinion. I'm not entitled to agree though.