Poetry Sunday: Memorial Day

Lest we forget...

Memorial Day

by Joyce Kilmer (1914)

"Dulce et decorum est"

The bugle echoes shrill and sweet,
 But not of war it sings to-day.

The road is rhythmic with the feet
 Of men-at-arms who come to pray.

The roses blossom white and red
 On tombs where weary soldiers lie;

Flags wave above the honored dead
 And martial music cleaves the sky.

Above their wreath-strewn graves we kneel,
 They kept the faith and fought the fight.

Through flying lead and crimson steel
 They plunged for Freedom and the Right.

May we, their grateful children, learn
 Their strength, who lie beneath this sod,

Who went through fire and death to earn
 At last the accolade of God.

In shining rank on rank arrayed
 They march, the legions of the Lord;

He is their Captain unafraid,
 The Prince of Peace . . . Who brought a sword.


Comments

  1. CarmenMay 30, 2016 at 12:50 PM

    Beautiful poem, Dorothy! Happy Memorial Day!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Judy KruegerJune 3, 2016 at 1:55 PM

    On Memorial Day I was on a plane coming home from Houston. I made it home and now still catching up on all the blogs I follow. I have always been on the peace side of the Prince of Peace. But now I am reading The Secret Chord, by Geraldine Brooks, about King David. All they did was fight wars in the name of God. Good poem!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dorothy BordersJune 3, 2016 at 2:19 PM

      My personal opinion is that many (most?) humans use their concept of God to justify doing what they would have done anyway. "God is on our side!" is the cry. But I wonder...

      Delete

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