quite appropriate for this month I think

flowerfairy


Joined: 17/09/2008
Posts: 1277

Message Posted:
10/11/2010 14:56

This poem was written by A. Lawrence Vaincourt



He was getting old and paunchy

And his hair was falling fast,

And he sat around the Legion,

Telling stories of the past.



Of a war that he once fought in

And the deeds that he had done,

In his exploits with his buddies;

They were heroes, every one.



And 'tho sometimes to his neighbors

His tales became a joke,

All his buddies listened quietly

For they knew where of he spoke.



But we'll hear his tales no longer,

For ol' Bob has passed away,

And the world's a little poorer

For a Soldier died today.



He won't be mourned by many,

Just his children and his wife.

For he lived an ordinary,

Very quiet sort of life.



He held a job and raised a family,

Going quietly on his way;

And the world won't note his passing,

'Tho a Soldier died today.



When politicians leave this earth,

Their bodies lie in state,

While thousands note their passing,

And proclaim that they were great.



Papers tell of their life stories

Fr

flowerfairy


Joined: 17/09/2008
Posts: 1277

Message Posted:
10/11/2010 14:57

Papers tell of their life stories

From the time that they were young

But the passing of a Soldier

Goes unnoticed, and unsung.



Is the greatest contribution

To the welfare of our land,

Some jerk who breaks his promise

And cons his fellow man?



Or the ordinary fellow

Who in times of war and strife,

Goes off to serve his country

And offers up his life?



The politician's stipend

And the style in which he lives,

Are often disproportionate,

To the service that he gives.



While the ordinary Soldier,

Who offered up his all,

Is paid off with a medal

And perhaps a pension, small.



It is not the politicians

With their compromise and ploys,

Who won for us the freedom

That our country now enjoys.



Should you find yourself in danger,

With your enemies at hand,

Would you really want some cop-out,

With his ever waffling stand?



Or would you want a Soldier--

His home, his country, his kin,

Just a common Soldier,

Who would fight until the end.



He was just a co

flowerfairy


Joined: 17/09/2008
Posts: 1277

Message Posted:
10/11/2010 14:58

He was just a common Soldier,

And his ranks are growing thin,

But his presence should remind us

We may need his like again.



For when countries are in conflict,

We find the Soldier's part

Is to clean up all the troubles

That the politicians start.



If we cannot do him honor

While he's here to hear the praise,

Then at least let's give him homage

At the ending of his days.



Perhaps just a simple headline

In the paper that might say:

"OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING,

A SOLDIER DIED TODAY."

lulubell


Joined: 18/11/2008
Posts: 595

Message Posted:
10/11/2010 15:10

Thank you Flowerfairy xx

adkdundee


Joined: 01/08/2010
Posts: 86

Message Posted:
10/11/2010 15:26

Very good poem. I'm sure it will be appreciated by many,



ADK

Pipie


Joined: 05/01/2008
Posts: 5499

Message Posted:
10/11/2010 16:40

Makes you think !! Thank you flowerfairy.

Lilli



Joined: 21/07/2008
Posts: 13081

Message Posted:
10/11/2010 17:10

FF It says iy all really, thank you for making us remember. It did make me cry though. To all our brave boys and girls now serving and to all gone before us I will wear my poppy with pride xxxx

LordJim


Joined: 12/10/2010
Posts: 221

Message Posted:
10/11/2010 17:27

nice on ff

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
10/11/2010 18:38

Very poignant. Thanks for posting

Jeannie


Joined: 04/08/2009
Posts: 3283

Message Posted:
10/11/2010 18:44

Agree with mesage 9 - very poignant and thought provoking.



Thank you.

shrimp


Joined: 01/09/2010
Posts: 939

Message Posted:
10/11/2010 22:05

thought provoking indeed......

martinD41


Joined: 06/09/2010
Posts: 3001

Message Posted:
10/11/2010 22:19

First world war "Millions" dead to satisfy theoretical politics ????

ballymurphy


Joined: 20/09/2009
Posts: 166

Message Posted:
10/11/2010 22:41

Hi Flowerfairy, there is a " Festival of Rembrance " honouring British soldiers and all other soldiers who have died in wars. It consists of songs and poems from 1st & 2cd World War period and also one of Ataturk's speechs will be read. There will be some modern songs as well but the intention is to remember our fallen heros.The Festival is being held in the Barrons theatre at Chateaux Lambousa starting at 7:30 on 11/12/13 November.The admission price is 25TL and you can pay on the door, there will be a raffle each night the proceeds going to servicemen & women's charities e.g. British Legion ect.

flowerfairy


Joined: 17/09/2008
Posts: 1277

Message Posted:
11/11/2010 09:53

Maybe if they taught the children of today the history of our country, and the pride with which our forefathers fought, maybe some of the students of today would act with more dignity.