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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16 thoughts on “Soldiers Fade Away”
During WW I in England the women advocating for the vote for upper and middle class women only intentionally handed out a white feather – the symbol of cowardice – to every male they came across who was not wearing a military uniform. Seems to me that when their men came home broken in both mind and body these women got exactly what they deserved.
You can read more about it in “The Woman Racket” written by Steve Moxon.
Yes it is true that women handed out white feathers but the men did too. Also you could be sent to prison if you were a conscientious objector or be sent as a stretcher bearer with no protection on the battlefield. Some young men came home on leave and were too mentally ill to return to their units. They were arrested sumerally tried and then shot at dawn.
Whole units of soldiers had to go over the top of the trenches, the generals using them as cannon fodder. If they refused the order was given to fire on their position.
So the men were just as bad, if not worse. All this is fully documented.
Btw do you know the full story of how badly men treated the suffragettes in prison. My poem was not written so you can score points on how badly women treat men. There are good and bad on both sides. Humans are not kind.
David’s comment is true up to a point but as I said in my reply there is a lot more to it than he implies! Hugs to you and Daniel.xxxx
WW1 was a time when those who could enlist did, Sweet Willow, and those who were too young lied about their ages to be able to fight for glory… ’twas said it would be over in two weeks. and whole villages, groups of friends etc.. signed up and were lost, either dead or returned as you described so well, lost in their broken minds and bodies… War is a terrible thing… but we never learn. hugs aplenty my friend. xPenx
Thank you Jen is was such an awful thing to happen, the painting you speak of and the wonderful poem you used are so evocative. So much amazing, terrifying poems and painting came from those too wars. What has mankind learned??? Nothing. xxx
Maybe more than we think – more than those in power think or want to believe. The net and social media has changed things in ways that I think will have some very interesting developments re social justice issues. Going to be an interesting next decade or so in my opinion.
Yes lets hope so though I still think money talks loudest and there is a lot of money in Munitions and Armary ! But lets hope for a ray of light to ignigte from a new generation ? fingers crossed. xx
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willowdot21 
During WW I in England the women advocating for the vote for upper and middle class women only intentionally handed out a white feather – the symbol of cowardice – to every male they came across who was not wearing a military uniform. Seems to me that when their men came home broken in both mind and body these women got exactly what they deserved.
You can read more about it in “The Woman Racket” written by Steve Moxon.
Yes it is true that women handed out white feathers but the men did too. Also you could be sent to prison if you were a conscientious objector or be sent as a stretcher bearer with no protection on the battlefield. Some young men came home on leave and were too mentally ill to return to their units. They were arrested sumerally tried and then shot at dawn.
Whole units of soldiers had to go over the top of the trenches, the generals using them as cannon fodder. If they refused the order was given to fire on their position.
So the men were just as bad, if not worse. All this is fully documented.
Btw do you know the full story of how badly men treated the suffragettes in prison. My poem was not written so you can score points on how badly women treat men. There are good and bad on both sides. Humans are not kind.
Interesting comment, David. I didn’t know any of that.
David’s comment is true up to a point but as I said in my reply there is a lot more to it than he implies! Hugs to you and Daniel.xxxx
WW1 was a time when those who could enlist did, Sweet Willow, and those who were too young lied about their ages to be able to fight for glory… ’twas said it would be over in two weeks. and whole villages, groups of friends etc.. signed up and were lost, either dead or returned as you described so well, lost in their broken minds and bodies… War is a terrible thing… but we never learn. hugs aplenty my friend. xPenx
Yes Pen so much loss, so much madness war is an abomination ! Hugs Eternal. xxx
Emotive again, Willow. Excellent expression.
Thank you , my sister-in-law took two photos of the two paintings in the post, those paintings got me thinking!
What a beautiful & heart wrenching poem on the horrors of war and loss of innocence…truly touching, willowdot…
War is a terrible thing and as they have always said “Lest we forget” XXX
Heartrending but brilliant.
Thank you Jen is was such an awful thing to happen, the painting you speak of and the wonderful poem you used are so evocative. So much amazing, terrifying poems and painting came from those too wars. What has mankind learned??? Nothing. xxx
Maybe more than we think – more than those in power think or want to believe. The net and social media has changed things in ways that I think will have some very interesting developments re social justice issues. Going to be an interesting next decade or so in my opinion.
Yes lets hope so though I still think money talks loudest and there is a lot of money in Munitions and Armary ! But lets hope for a ray of light to ignigte from a new generation ? fingers crossed. xx
Toes as well. 🙂
😉