Remembering Flanders Field

[Leanne]

Forget the dead, they cannot see;
their eyes, the hollow prophecy
of peace. We swore a bloody vow
that all good men could not allow
an equal to that travesty.

Though poppies spread their bounty, free
on winds that blew through history,
the mighty oaks, from root to bough
forget the dead.

What ill-bred aristocracy
and mummers of democracy
have sent the fields beneath the plough
in grave betrayal? We should bow
in humble gratitude, lest we
forget the dead.

[Philatone]

hello leanne! wanted to share some quick thoughts

Forget the dead, they cannot see; ..great enjambment, starting with eyes on the next line
their eyes, the hollow prophecy ...appropriate
of peace. We swore a bloody vow
that all good men could not allow
an equal to that travesty...my own ignorance, but the "travesty" is not quite clear to me. the battle itself? the inability of the dead to see peace? the idea of peace? i think all of these could work in a sense, least I could find some defense for them all here, reinforced by the rest of the poem...

Though poppies spread their bounty, free ..nice shift to nature, suggestions of its lack of concern for people. "bounty" adds so much
on winds that blew through history,
the mighty oaks, from root to bough
forget the dead.

What ill-bred aristocracy
and mummers of democracy
have sent the fields beneath the plough
in grave betrayal? We should bow..great use of "grave". this stanza feels very open to me for interpretation
in humble gratitude, lest we
forget the dead.

just some quick thoughts, sorry if I completely missed the mark on some. led to a thought-provoking read

[Leanne]

Thanks for your thoughts I can't take credit for much of this really, since it's based so heavily on Lt McCrae's rondeau -- and yes, travesty pretty much refers to all of those things, the entire bloody mess that is our inability to stop fighting wars.

Since it's coming up to Remembrance Day I thought this might be appropriate.

[abu nuwas]

Thanks for your thoughts I can't take credit for much of this really, since it's based so heavily on Lt McCrae's rondeau -- and yes, travesty pretty much refers to all of those things, the entire bloody mess that is our inability to stop fighting wars.

Since it's coming up to Remembrance Day I thought this might be appropriate.

Pinching the entirety of Canadian literature, indeed!

[Leanne]

Haha, not the entirety, I believe there was some fellow called Rob Service Station or something...

[abu nuwas]

Haha, not the entirety, I believe there was some fellow called Rob Service Station or something...

A very able and charming Canadian woman used to work for me, and she never understood why I thought there was someting comical about her having graduated in Canadian Literature...snob that I am! Btw, you have rather demoted Dr McCrae: he made Lt Colonel.

[billy]

i wouldn't want to fault this one if i could. it reminds me of a few irish songs, "the green fields of france etc'
that had a quality about them that stirred something, even if just a little. war poems or poems about the remembrance of wars dead when well written are often very moving. who cares what it's based on, i enjoyed it. (now i'll have to search him out and read something of his)

thanks for the remembering.

is there such a thing as canadian literature

[Leanne]

"The Green Fields of France" was written by a Scotsman living in Australia, Eric Bogle But it's a favourite of mine as well.

The poem I'm referencing is:

In Flanders' Fields

In Flanders’ Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders’ Fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders’ Fields.

-- Lt. Col. John McCrae

[billy]

pretty stunning.

thanks for the share. i know who wrote it and that he was Scots, though i never knew he lived in auz, and i have to say the man had to be a poet. i first heard the song done by the fureys at a place called the wexford inn. (i cried)

the dubliners also did a good version. ronny drew's voice could sandpaper steel

[youtube]ntt3wy-L8Ok[/youtube]

[Leanne]

I like that one as well, but my favourite version is by The Corries:

[youtube]DdxgNPb5xWo[/youtube]

and this is his as well, probably more famous:

[youtube]WG48Ftsr3OI[/youtube]

[billy]

i've heard and like waltzing matilda by a few dublin bands. not keen on bogles accent of the green fields, though that's just because i was brought up with the irish versions. some of the scots and irish sung songs are things of beauty though.