Ronovan Writes SIJO Wednesday Poetry Challenge #46. Use FORTUNE as your inspiration this week.

I do not apologize for basing my Sijo this week on News story: Jan. 24, 2023, at 2:14 p.m. LONDON (Reuters) -British voluntary aid workers Chris Parry and Andrew Bagshaw were killed during an attempted humanitarian evacuation in eastern Ukraine, Parry’s family said on Tuesday, weeks after they were reported missing in the war-torn country.

THE FORTUNE OF WAR.

Caught up in the theatre of war, two heroes gave their lives for others.
Winter showed no pity, the enemy gives no quarter.
Four seasons witness atrocities, the miss fortune of war.

Part of Ronovanwrite’s Weekly Sijo.

We shall never forget.

They lie not in that empty grave
Beneath the foreign sod.
They do not lie forgotten
In that cold, and desolate Land of Nod.

Soldier Boy … Solider Boy,
The trumpets blast, and blare;
And wreaths are laid at the Cenotaph,
To show … that we still care.

But … there’s a greater love than Man’s
Who knows the price you paid.
He spared you the indignity,
And lifted you from that cold, cold grave.

He created a Great Celestial Shrine,
And the moment it was done …
With a gentle hand, placed the Valiant heart,
Of each dear Mother’s son.

Soldier Boy … Solider Boy,
Under Dutch blue skies,
The gentle Breeze of Holland …
Kiss your grave … as they pass by.

Written by  Earl Doucette

I could not find anything about Earl Doucette apart from the fact that he was Canadian.

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This  is a beautiful poem. It speaks of God, whatever name  you give him/her, lifting all the dead soldiers from their cold or hot and bloodied graves all over the world and  in all times past and future and even present. He takes  them to Heaven ..whatever name you have for heaven. It is a comfort to us all, for the violent deaths and hurried burials that soldiers on the battle theatres  of war received. It troubles us all and so we have these poems to salve our consciences and please our tender souls .

We all have Remembrance Days but this is a way of saying they got a greater remembrance. I shall say no more you have all heard my feelings on War .

Brittany Day 4

We woke early again to silence and dark.

We had decided the night before to visit the Chapel of Notre Dame du Deliverance. The Chapel was not far from us.

So another picnic was made Ruby walked and off we went.

We found the turn off to the Chapel at Monthault. The Chappelle Notre Dame De la Deliverance.

The first thing we noticed in the carpark was a stone table tennis table ! Yes in the middle of nowhere, among the picnic tables was a table tennis table made of stone.

It was so quiet there and beautiful, there was no one there only us and Ruby.

As I wandered through the trees I noticed crosses dotted around the area. On closer inspection we discovered that they were all stations of the cross.

We walked up to the chapel, it is a lovely building. Sadly though it was not only locked but from what I could see inside it was rather neglected too.

The statue on top of chapel, which has been rebuilt more than once , is a glorious tribute to the Virgin Mary,it was placed there when the chapel was rebuilt in 1877. The gold was applied to the statue in 1913.

Above is “The Monk’s Stone” I thought it was a Dolman but it was so huge. It is said a hermit lived there, well if he did there was no way in, or shelter to be found there.. it is said a monk did live on this strange site but he lived in a hut on on top of the stones!

Above are three photos of “The Granite Symposium” Fabulous modern features even so I could feel history from within them . The granite itself would be old even if the art and sculpture is new.

There were more stones there and I was so caught up in the feel of the place as was hubby that we failed to photograph them but I have put in links here to the website so you can see these amazing stones and read their history.

The Devil’s Stone

The Slippery or Scary Stone

The Stone of Sacrifice

The it was time for our picnic

Then more walking through time and space.

Thursday photo prompt: Circle #writephoto

This is my entry for Sue Vincent’s, of The Daily Echo, #writephoto Circle.

Circle of Stone

Just another monochrome day break.

We took the path from the big lake.

Cold and silent no bird calls

In fear I stumble, fall

Hands lift me up high

Cold stone alter

Where I lie

Now I

Die.

JUST JOT IT JANUARY: Sacrifice

THIS IS  PART  OF  LINDAGHILL’S  JUST JOT IT JANUARY

Today  13th January prompt  is  Sacrifice  and  was suggested  by mewhoami at  her  blog Me- who am I 

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Rules

 Sacrifice   Nonet

Given up  totally innocent

Thrown upon the alter of life

Sacrifice

Hauled across the  white hot coals

Offered  up  selflessly

Lamb of  God or not

Sacrificial

Given up

Truly

Free

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True sacrifice

Sacrifice      Haiku

To Love and  then to let go

To bestow freedom

Is true sacrifice, you know

 

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Sacrifice    Haiku

Spilt virgin’s blood upon stone

Long blade sharply hone

Screams of agony take flight

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Sacrifice

Sacrifice  Haiku

Life  and love freely given

Dear fruit of  the womb

All sins for you forgiven

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Mary and Jo part3

Mares was gently sleeping, her breathing slow and thin yet inside her head, her brain was still in a spin. Just like Jo she was thinking back to when all this did begin.

She was in her room alone late at night when suddenly this stunning young man appeared,  it gave her such a fright. Before she could say a word he gently touched her mouth he smiled at her and all her questions and fears flew south.

Who are you and why are you here there will be trouble if my parents hear. Again he smiled and then he said the strangest thing she had ever heard “Hail Mary full of Grace” Mares eyes wide open stared into this strange man’s face.

He beckoned her to come near and then he whispered in her ear. Well he said the most outlandish things. He told he was an angel he even showed her his wings. A messenger from God was he, and Mary was pregnant  Just how could that be.

Gentle Mary you must not fear I told you God has sent me here, you alone have been chosen from all of womanhood to bare a son who will save the world by dying for them, that did not sound so good. The angel ask Mary if what he had said was clear, she was quiet and full of fear.

Things will not be easy the angel knew and many would point the finger at Mary it’s true. This was such an important things she had to do. Mary had not been pleased and asked just how she was to be with child , you are already the angel smiled.

The next month was no fun, her parents did not believe their daughter and friends thought her mad so she was shunned.Then one afternoon her friend Jo asked her to share his life he would love the child and her if she would be his wife. Mary asked if he believed her story was true he said he did and he had met an angel too. And so their strange story had begun .