Poetry Challenge #7 01/07/2012 THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE

Lord Tennyson wrote this poem to memorialise the suicidal charge of the light cavalry Battle of Balaclava (Ukraine) in the Crimean War (1854-56). 247 men of the 637 in the charge were killed or wounded. Britain entered the war, which was fought by Russia against Turkey, Britain and France, because Russia sought to control the Dardanelles. Russian control of the Dardanelles threatened British sea routes.

Another reason that Crimean War is remember is because of Florence Nightingale, who trained as a nurse then trained many more young women and then nursed at the front , experiencing war first hand.

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photo credits http://learnonline-mgs.blogspot.co.uk/

Alfred Tennyson, 1st Baron Tennyson, FRS (6 August 1809 – 6 October 1892) was Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom during much of Queen Victoria’s reign and remains one of the most popular poets in the English language.

Tennyson was first a student of Louth Grammar School for four years (1816–1820)^[3] and then attended Scaitcliffe School, Englefield Green and King Edward VI Grammar School, Louth. He entered Trinity College, Cambridge in 1827,^[4] where he joined a secret society called the Cambridge Apostles. At Cambridge Tennyson met Arthur Henry Hallam, who became his closest friend.

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This Sunday I have chosen to highlight Lord Alfred Tennyson’s poem THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE. I find this a truly sad and honest account of what happened. Again it was generals ordering the troops in, in to the gates hell. It was the Valley of death out of 637 men who entered the charge ( without question or redress) only 247 returned!

As the poem reports they had guns on their left and right and in front of them. Truly a suicidal manoeuvre but as is the soldiers’ lot they obey. These where cavalry so it was not only all of these men but their horses also. The poor horses must of been terrified too. The noise , bullets, shells,glinting sabres, mud and blood it was truly hell!

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The Charge Of The Light Brigade

by Alfred, Lord TennysonMemorializing Events in the Battle of Balaclava, October 25, 1854
Written 1854

Half a league half a league,
Half a league onward,
All in the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred:
‘Forward, the Light Brigade!
Charge for the guns’ he said:
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.

‘Forward, the Light Brigade!’
Was there a man dismayed ?
Not though the soldier knew
Some one had blundered:
Theirs not to make reply,
Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs but to do & die,
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.

Cannon to right of them,
Cannon to left of them,
Cannon in front of them
Volleyed & thundered;
Stormed at with shot and shell,
Boldly they rode and well,
Into the jaws of Death,
Into the mouth of Hell
Rode the six hundred.

Flashed all their sabres bare,
Flashed as they turned in air
Sabring the gunners there,
Charging an army while
All the world wondered:
Plunged in the battery-smoke
Right through the line they broke;
Cossack & Russian
Reeled from the sabre-stroke,
Shattered & sundered.
Then they rode back, but not
Not the six hundred.

Cannon to right of them,
Cannon to left of them,
Cannon behind them
Volleyed and thundered;
Stormed at with shot and shell,
While horse & hero fell,
They that had fought so well
Came through the jaws of Death,
Back from the mouth of Hell,
All that was left of them,
Left of six hundred.

When can their glory fade?
O the wild charge they made!
All the world wondered.
Honour the charge they made!
Honour the Light Brigade,
Noble six hundred!

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:

Author: willowdot21

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. Eleven years ago 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 " not quite but with the help of a walking stick and as long as I do not stand or sit in one position for too long, I am still standing! Update 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 50yrs plus this year . Pain and boredom are my enemies now, I have to find 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 ?? I need to update this a little here. I have worked very hard over the years since my accident, I go to the gym regularly, I have a Pilates class and a core class once a week . The guys at the gym and my Pilates teacher cajoled, teased, bullied and encouraged me to abandon my walking stick! :) 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 as strongly 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. View all posts by willowdot21

6 thoughts on “Poetry Challenge #7 01/07/2012 THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE”

There’s something that I absolutely love about this poem, Willow. I’m still not sure what it is, but it gives me goose bumps every time I read it or hear it. Loving this post!!

willowdot21 says:

Jul 1, 2012 at 9:07 pm

It is a strange and compelling poem I think the lines ” Some one had blundered:
Theirs not to make reply,Theirs not to reason why,Theirs but to do & die,Into the valley of Death Rode the six hundred. beautiful but so honestly sad!

Reply

Yes this was a gruesome event, one that
stands out in history because of the wasted
lives and cruel obliteration…

Thank you for adding this one
as it is an important piece of history
and one that needs to be told…

Have a wonderful rest of evening Willowdot 🙂

Androgoth XXx

I have learnt so much about wars through doing this poetry challenge. I am pleased to have learned so much but very disturbed by what have I have learned. It is an evil world. But I hope you have an excellent week ! 🙂 x