 Poetry: November 14, 2018 Issue [#9218] |
This week: Remembering.. Edited by: eyestar~*  
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 Hi readers! I am happy to be a guest editor for this edition. With Remembrance Day on Nov 11 just passed, I wanted to do a little tribute for all who served in the forces by bringing to mind a famous poem and John McCrae in honour of this 100th year since the end of WW1. Peace to all! 
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John McCrae,(1872-1918} was a Canadian poet, a physician, surgeon, author and soldier of WW 1, who composed the famous wartime poem "In Flanders Fields." He was on holiday in England at age 41, when he signed up to help the English as field surgeon and became Medical Officer in 1914. While in Belgium at Ypres, he was inspired to write this poem on the day after a bomb exploded and a young 22 yr old friend, Alex Hilmer, was killed. A wooden cross marked his burial. He wrote it in about 20 minutes as he witnessed the bleakness of the trenches and the poppies and larks, and hoped that others would "take up' the cause so the deaths would not be in vain.
The poem was actually rejected by the bigger newspapers but appeared in the British Magazine Punch in Dec 8, 1915, unnamed, in a small corner. Yet it became a popular poem, copied, sang, and even used to raise money for the war effort. After his death Sir Andrew Macphail added it to his collection in 1919.
At the 100th anniversary of his poem in 2015, he was named to the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame. He actually was quite brilliant pathologist, associate at McGill U. and wrote in medical journals, as well as poetry in "the Pen and Pencil Club". Also a statue to him was created by Ruth Abernathy for Ottawa, Ont.
The poem has been recited each year on Remembrance Day, Nov 11, and most years I can recall doing it in school and memorials during my life. It was one of the first poems we studied I recall studying as a "Poem". Poppies became popular.
Its dramatic imagery and tone always evokes a chill and makes me grateful for those who had to face the task so that many of us never had to. It has the feel of a sonnet and the repetition of the title words reflect an echo sound across time. He uses only two rhyme sounds "O" and "I" and the breaks in mid lines are abrupt and add pause. the contrast of images are evocative as well.The voice of the dead and then relating to the common experience of sunset connects us. The picture has become iconic: the battle sounds on the earth and the larks call, death and life and the image of the torch. The keen observation is moving.
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."
He painted such vivid picture in the moment and I admire the clarity that comes from the heart and muse even in such a chaotic place and situation. To find that quiet moment and need to express his grief and insight. It was to be his legacy, as he suffered with asthma, and the first use of gas in this battle effected him and he died of pneumonia 3 years later (age 45) before he could take up his role as Consultant to the First British Army, the first Canadian to hold that post.
Here is a reading from 2015 by another iconic Canadian poets, Leonard Cohen:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKoJvHcMLfc
John wrote others as well including this one:
The Anxious Dead ▼
O guns, fall silent till the dead men hear
Above their heads the legions pressing on:
(These fought their fight in time of bitter fear,
And died not knowing how the day had gone.)
O flashing muzzles, pause, and let them see
The coming dawn that streaks the sky afar;
Then let your mighty chorus witness be
To them, and Caesar, that we still make war.
Tell them, O guns, that we have heard their call,
That we have sworn, and will not turn aside,
That we will onward till we win or fall,
That we will keep the faith for which they died.
Bid them be patient, and some day, anon,
They shall feel earth enwrapt in silence deep;
Shall greet, in wonderment, the quiet dawn,
And in content may turn them to their sleep."
The poem has inspired and has had meaning across the years in many conflicts that even today ravage our world.
Let's remember the "brave" as we wear our poppies bright. 
poems from
https://www.poemhunter.com/john-mccrae/
A bit of background about John, poppies and poem influence.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3OGSGM0HOI
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And Wow! thanks for these entries responding to my last newsletter!
Lou-Here By His Grace 
My attempt at a Villanelle.
Fabulous!
The Dark Faery
I wrote this ,
,
Way to go!!
Jim Hall
I recently tried my hand at writing a Villanelle poem:
{entry:} Villanelle from
I did find it a challenge to write, but fun at the same time.
I hear you! Awesome.
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