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I occasionally take a peek at this thread, when I need a diversion from all the crapola in the world. (BTW..I'm not even sure if I'm on the pinglist..if not, kindly add me.

Question: Last week I came across a quote from John Masefield, Poet Laureate of England. It really resonated with me. It's not poetry, (but he was a great poet, obviously.)

It comes from something he apparently wrote about wartime life at sea in the Royal Navy during Nelson's time.

I gather it's referred to as "Patriotism," and since that is something that we often speak of, and discuss on FR, I thought you'd enjoy it. ( assuming, of course, that you've not already covered it somewheres before on the thread...

"Patriotism, in its true form, is of the kind they gave, it is not a song in the street or a wreath on a column, or a flag flying from a window. It is a thing very holy and very terrible like life itself. It is a burden to be borne, a thing to labor for, and to suffer for and die for, a thing which gives no happiness, and no pleasantness, but a hard life, an unknown grave, and the respect, and bared heads, of those who followed.."

I couldn't find the source, or if it's an excerpt from a longer work. Maybe some here can look for it, explain the context. I found it powerful, and very moving. Thought you all might enjoy, as well as all others on the thread..should you choose to ping them. Best