|
Written by gwyddyn (28 comments posted) 10th November 2007 |
A beautifully simple poem that perfectly captures the sacrifice of so many.
Thank you for reminding us all. |
Thanks
Written by Josie (2732 comments posted) 10th November 2007 |
| Thanks Gwyddyn for your kind words. It is strange what triggers a poem, or where the words come from, but the words just swept through me and I had to write them down. I know now why the poppy, more than any other flower, is used to remember young lives lost in war - or in fact young lives lost at all. The rose wouldn't do at all. |
Written by maipenrai (783 comments posted) 10th November 2007 |
Thank you for this, it is importent that we have rememrance not just for the the slain and the dead of old wars but also for the dead and the maimed of the wars we fight today.
Again thank you for this.
Bernie |
Written by bluecity (367 comments posted) 10th November 2007 |
I've just looked at your website http://www.whiteheadm.co.uk/html/josies_poetry.htm and also your family website. It's always interesting to know what sort of person I'm writing to.
I also looked at Scribblers Corner. I was a more than a little concerned that, as a guest, I got visibility of all the writers' real names! These will all, inevitably, be listed on Google, not a good idea for someone who doesn't want his/her (probably private) creative writing to be known to all and sundry. I'm thinking particularly of teachers. I'm a teacher in FE, of loud, rude and disparaging students and I couldn't write honestly if I knew that everything I wrote could be help up to their ridicule and derision. (I know you taught in FE too.)
However, I think your poems are brilliant. I particularly like the fact that they rhyme. And I can see why schoolchildren like them particularly.
I love your poem for Remembrance Sunday. I think it sums up all our feelings about Remembrance and I think your poem would help children to come to terms with the concept of Remembrance (which must be quite difficult for a small child).
I shall now look at the Poetry link on GW more often.
Rosemary |
Written by tpowell (105 comments posted) 10th November 2007 |
A beautiful poem Josie, you are right that the poppy is the best flower for Remembrance Sunday, I too have noticed that they only flower for one day and then the petals fall.
I've just watched the Remembrance service on BBC1 and the poignant image of all those thousands of poppy petals falling, one for each life lost, speaks louder than a thousand words.
Tracey
|
Remembrance Day
Written by Josie (2732 comments posted) 11th November 2007 |
Thanks for your comments. It is important that we remember the millions of lives lost in the two world wars, particularly the first world war, and John McCrae has written the wonderful poem "In Flanders Fields" http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/flanders.htm - but I didn't want to mention Flanders fields because I wanted people to remember that young lives are still being taken through war, and those who also fight for freedom but are badly injured and come home. They deserve our love and care, and it is sad to think that there are thousands of them who are homeless in our cities, and it is sad to think that many feel that they weren't appreciated. So this poem has been written to let them know that they are appreciated very much indeed and people do care.
Please go to "Josie Whitehead - Google" and read on my website what my father had to say. He fought in the last Battle of the Somme on 27 May 1915. |
Written by Bottleblondesurfer (3298 comments posted) 11th November 2007 |
I liked this because it wasn't beautiful and powerfully lyrical, it was simple and affective and straight from the heart.War shouldn't be glamourised with beautiful sentiments, it's dishonest and misleading. Your honesty and simplicity make this a special piece. They weren't glorious heroes but working class boys doing their best and should be remembered as such. It's always those with the least to lose who give the most in war.
Well done
Jane |
To Jane
Written by Josie (2732 comments posted) 11th November 2007 |
| Jane, thanks. You have a good way with writing reviews, but what you have said is true. I don't know where the words came from, but, thinking about young lives and poppy petals, a rush of words came and I felt, like you that they were straight from my heart. what you have also said about war not being glamourized with beautiful sentiments - I agree 100 per cent. I wanted this poem to be kept absolutely simple, but that there should be a direct relationship between why we wear poppies (rather than other flowers) and their link to young lives lost in all wars everywhere, but particularly in the First World War where 750,000 young British lives were lost. My father was a working class boy of almost 18 when he joined up, and he said he and his friends joined up "as a bit of a lark" (his words) - but they certainly didn't know what they would have to face, living in their little Worcestershire home near to Malvern. They didn't hear much of what the truth was in those days. He was the only one who came back to the village. |
Last word
Written by Josie (2732 comments posted) 11th November 2007 |
| Phil said that I should tell you this (not my idea) - but I was asked to read this poem on BBC Radio Leeds this morning at just before 9 am. It was played with the soft music "Love Can Build Bridges" behind it for Remembrance Day, and they did an interview with me for next week's programme. You can listen on the BBCs "Play Again" if you like, and it is right at the end of the 3 hr programme, but I don't know where next week's interview will be slotted in. |
Written by Phil (6645 comments posted) 11th November 2007 |
Just a quickie.
Very well done Josie. Fantastic news. I liked this poem a lot and I'm really glad you've had some recognition.
I'll come back when my boss gives me a pass!
Phil |
Hi Josie
Written by jean.day (2257 comments posted) 12th November 2007 |
A lovely poem. My husband had relatives who died in the first world war who lived in Worcester, but grew up at Malvern Link. Maybe your relatives would have known them. My book called Lansdowne Crescent, which is on this site, is about those 3 boys who died in the war, written by theis sisters by put into chronological order by me and I added other family history to it. But in the chapters about 1916-17-18 it includes letters from the brothers who died, telling about their attitudes towards the war, and then the family's reactions when they died.
I am very fond of poppies and am pleased that they were picked for this special job. |
Hi
Written by maipenrai (783 comments posted) 12th November 2007 |
| To me one of the saddest things in the First World War was the formation of "Pals Battalions" where young men from a neighbourhood joined up together and sadly in many cases died together, whole districts in places like Manchester, Liverpool lost a generation of young men. |
Written by Phil (6645 comments posted) 12th November 2007 |
As spare few minutes.
A simple and effective piece Josie. I still think there are four lines that the poem you could lose and it would be strengthened as a result. The poem deals very effectively in generalities and history. I'm not sure bring it into the present (specifically) adds. However, I still think the piece as a whole is very effective - and your opinion is the most important. One of my favourites of yours. It deserves its coverage on the radio. Such a long time ago, and yet it still resonates - probably because we haven't yet learned from our mistakes - and probably never will.
Super piece.
MP3 link to the radio?
Phil. |
Josie,
Written by gerardconnolly (1186 comments posted) 12th November 2007 |
Let me add my congratulations on your radio appearance. Its always nice to cut a dash in the real world. You certainly deserve your fifteen minutes of fame after all the effort you put in to promote poetry such is accessible to mere mortals. Well done!
For my part I have to admit that I find most War Poetry a touch mawkish and decidedly melodramatic. But yours is certainly redeemed by its sincerity.
Slan! |
Written by Lizzy (783 comments posted) 13th November 2007 |
Thought provoking and simply put.
Lizzy |
Thank you everyone
Written by Josie (2732 comments posted) 13th November 2007 |
| for your appreciative reviews and support. It means a lot. I have to admit too, Gerard, that I agree with you. I studied some of the war poets for A level Eng Lit, and some of the poems are decidedly "mawkish" but I have tried to lift this onto a simple level now that we have moved away from the First World War, and to make this poem cover also the young of today, not just those who have died (in considerably less numbers than in WWI thank God) but also to remember the young lives who have been wrecked by injuries etc. We remember them too for many of them have shed their blood too. Also to remember the families left behind. |
Written by woody44 (774 comments posted) 13th November 2007 |
A quiet, contemplative piece Josie. I enjoyed reading it and I add my congrats to the others regarding your radio appearance. I suppose Wilfred Owen encapsulated what the war was really like, unlike Rupert Brook`s patriotic fervour. Hindsight, I suppose, is a wonderful thing...
Very well done
Roger |
Just a thought...
Written by woody44 (774 comments posted) 13th November 2007 |
..I only found out a short while ago that my Grandfather (on my mother`s side) won the Military Medal in the Great War. Had he been an Officer it would have been the Military Cross. That, I suppose, sums it all up.
Roger |
Written by audrie (444 comments posted) 13th November 2007 |
Agree with all that is said above. My dad was a sargeant in the first world war. He and his friend joined up together and before they were shipped over to France, they stayed the night at a house in Ipswitch.
The landlady told my father that he would come back but his friend would not.
His friend was in the dugout right beside my father when he was shot dead. My dad had a cigarette case in his pocket and that was hit and badly dented but it saved his life! He lived to be 100 with a piece of shrapnel still in his body! |
Written by Fledermaus (3238 comments posted) 16th November 2007 |
The British did very well choosing the poppy as a remembrance flower. Ever since I came accross a ceremony in Scotland on remembrance day (which I knew nothing about), I always have to think of fallen British soldiers whenever I see poppies. Over here they recently proposed the dianthus to get a similar function, as prince Bernhard (in spite of what some people say a great hero of WW2) loved that flower.
A few months ago I saw this documentary on the Belgian TV about soldiers from WW1 which are still being found in Flanders and they also showed a British memorial at (I think) Ypres. It sent a chill down my spine to see how big it was and how many names there were on it...
In highschool we read pieces of "Im Westen nichts neues" and watched a film based on that book. It is about a group of German teenagers who go to fight in France in 1914 I think. I clearly remember two episodes:
Firstly when the boys arrive at the train station in a very cheerful mood. They have all sorts of heroic fantasies about the war and already imagine themselves parading through the streets. And then the train with the dead and wounded arrives...
Secondly where they storm a French trench and one of the boys ends up with a mortally wounded Frenchman who begs him to kill him, yet now that the boy can see the man's face he is afraid to kill another human being and hence he has to see him die slowly.
The war to end all wars... If only that was true.
|
Only registered users can rate and write comments.
Please login or register.
Previous item
