Without death, bloodshed and suffering wars are never won
And only hatred and grief survives when the fighting is done
And war heroes honoured in every war street parade
By war men the memories of war not allowed for to fade
The politicians the praises of the war dead do sing
Their politicizing of war for sake of power not an honourable thing
For God, Flag and Country and National Pride
Far too many good young people in wars have died
one war leads to another war as the wise one did say
And millions for patriotism in wars with their lives do pay
For the sake of war the war men create us against they
And for the love of a flag the young and brave die in wars today
And on Remembrance Day the war men parade up and down
In a show of patriotism through the streets of the town.
(1946 – Present) I have been penning stuff since 1973 have written up to nine thousand individual pieces which can be seen on various online poetry sites, I was born and raised in Millstreet Co Cork Ireland and I have been living in Victoria Australia for the past twenty three years………. Francis Duggan.
This modern poem is timeless it could refer to any war! It says all the things I have said in the months since January. The tears I have shed whilst researching this challenge are witness to the fact that no one wins in war. No one , no person, no country, no religion, no sect nothing and nobody wins,only the politicians and the arms makers ………….. They win hands down every time .
Politicians plot scheme and win, our young people in the armed forces are maimed and killed, sacrificed on the altar of their greed ( the politicians greed that is). Then the truth is sanitized and the politicians brush things over! We never learn, it has been this way since the beginning of mankind and I see no changes yet . willow.
Poetry Challenge #7 is to create a journal of links and your reactions to poems by established (living or dead poets.) Details are here. Example response is here. Mr. Linky for Challenge #7 is directly below:
Female, wife, full time mother and Grandmother. I am not as happy go lucky as I used to be but I am still bubbling along on simmer! I have three handsome sons all grown and flown.The youngest married with a beautiful wife and two sons of his own. Back in 2010 I was working, running a home, driving and socializing then bang in a split second all that was gone. I had an accident at home. I broke my back, not for the first time, I had broken it 10 years previously as well. Unfortunately this time I had broken it really badly and it was truly messed up so I had to have two operations. I was told before each operation that the outcome could mean I spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair. Still as some guy once wrote "I am still standing " yes "better than I ever was " I no longer use the walking stick . I had lots of friends before the accident but when things like this happen, you loose most of them. Their lives move on and mine stood still and so they left me behind ...I know that is just the way life is but it hurt and always will. Then I looked around and saw those who were still there for me, these friends are the roses in my garden they need to be tended well. They are the diamonds in the dust. I will of been married 53yrs this comming year. I have found different ways to approach life, use my pain befriend it almost...yer right , well that is what they tell me at the pain clinic ROFLMAO ...... if only I could! I have found an outlet for my fears, frustrations and night terrors . I have started writing poetry if that name can be applied to my writing. I hope I do not come over as a moaning winger. I hope I am past all that. I also hope that you might see how the poetry is moving from very dark through the grey and hopefully in to light.
My back is no longer straight it is C shaped because of the injury and I have lost two and a half inches in height but my Pilates and Core teachers have helped me to stand up as straight and be as strong as possible. Pain and depression are still hanging on my arm but I have weapons to use against them and if I say so myself I cope well.
I have made lots of new friends, real diamonds. I am also very grateful for all the support and help I have encountered here on Wordpress. Hugs and welcome to everyone who visits.
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14 thoughts on “Journal For Poetry Challenge#20/05/2012”
Wow. Never fail to touch me these such pictures of the war, never fail. Great post, Willowdot.
You are absolutely right, Willowdot…. And that photo certainly brings your notion to life… War is fought for so many different reasons, and I think usually it is seen as righteous by those who live during it. What always has kept me thinking is how normal, good family men spend their lives loving and caring for others and then suddenly go off to war and adopt an entirely new view of life where killing becomes ok or even second nature. Which makes me think DaPoet is correct, it is our nature…. But it should always be questionned… nice poem….
HI John, it is so strange as you say that normal Mr average changes into a killer! Sometimes it turns once happily coexisting neighbours into killers neighbour on neighbour friend on friend even brother on brother boom! War respects nothing and no one! Sadly yes I think it is within us, we mankind are at fault.
l hear you and it is important to show these terrible scenes to remind us of the ills of war.
yes but I am sorry for any distress caused that was not my intention. x
Wonderfully honest and blunt post today, in this week leading up to Memorial Day holiday. Oddly, this year it also falls on what we liturgicals celebrate as Pentecost Sunday, the birthday of the Christian church! You are so right: the only true winners in war are the politicians and the arms-makers! I have been crying with you, dear willowdot!
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willowdot21 
Wow. Never fail to touch me these such pictures of the war, never fail. Great post, Willowdot.
They are so sad, the photos. War is so sad, I am glad the posts reach out and touch you!! 🙂 hugs x
Beautiul!
Thank you !
Sadly it will never change because human nature is corrupt at its very core.
You are so right, nothing will change. The. World is a sad place. Good Night my good friend xx
Sweet Dreams! 🙂
You are absolutely right, Willowdot…. And that photo certainly brings your notion to life… War is fought for so many different reasons, and I think usually it is seen as righteous by those who live during it. What always has kept me thinking is how normal, good family men spend their lives loving and caring for others and then suddenly go off to war and adopt an entirely new view of life where killing becomes ok or even second nature. Which makes me think DaPoet is correct, it is our nature…. But it should always be questionned… nice poem….
HI John, it is so strange as you say that normal Mr average changes into a killer! Sometimes it turns once happily coexisting neighbours into killers neighbour on neighbour friend on friend even brother on brother boom! War respects nothing and no one! Sadly yes I think it is within us, we mankind are at fault.
That first photo is distressing… 😦
Yes I am sorry but I wanted to get the readers attention and make a point, war hardens, war destroys, war removes the human in us.
l hear you and it is important to show these terrible scenes to remind us of the ills of war.
yes but I am sorry for any distress caused that was not my intention. x
Wonderfully honest and blunt post today, in this week leading up to Memorial Day holiday. Oddly, this year it also falls on what we liturgicals celebrate as Pentecost Sunday, the birthday of the Christian church! You are so right: the only true winners in war are the politicians and the arms-makers! I have been crying with you, dear willowdot!