The first is by WW1 ace Mick Mannock, who here quite cleverly despite modest education plays off of Lewis Carrol's Jabberwocky. The second is for today, at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month so we remember those who gave, and are still giving, more than we can repay. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
BEHOLD her, single in the field, Yon solitary Highland Lass! Reaping and singing by herself; Stop here, or gently pass! Alone she cuts and binds the grain, And sings a melancholy strain; O listen! for the Vale profound Is overflowing with the sound. No Nightingale did ever chaunt More welcome notes to weary bands Of travellers in some shady haunt, Among Arabian sands: A voice so thrilling ne'er was heard In spring-time from the Cuckoo-bird, Breaking the silence of the seas Among the farthest Hebrides. Will no one tell me what she sings? Perhaps the plaintive numbers flow For old, unhappy, far-off things, And battles long ago: Or is it some more humble lay, Familiar matter of to-day? Some natural sorrow, loss, or pain, That has been, and may be again? Whate'er the theme, the Maiden sang As if her song could have no ending; I saw her singing at her work, And o'er the sickle bending; I listen'd, motionless and still; And, as I mounted up the hill, The music in my heart I bore, Long after it was heard no more.
I have no poems from his day but I'm certain that there were many written about and by Civil War soldiers. My paternal grandfather was one. He fought as a member of the 29th Ohio Vol Inf. in many battles but Gettysburg, Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, and The Hell Hole at New Hope Church , Ga.were the worst. He was hit in the chest there by a cal.55 Minie ball and survived it somehow. He came over here from Ireland as a small boy and enlisted in the Union army at eighteen and fought for two years. He re-upped to face two more years of the deprivation and diseases plus the terrible fighting and finally was put out of action . I will forever wonder what drove him to re-enlist when he could have gone home after serving his first two years. The only thing that comes to mind is devotion to his new country. He was one of millions like him who followed in his footsteps.
On Superstitious Rides Hidden Wonders where moonlight abides Take a chance thrown dice Pleasurable indeed -twice as nice A spun Saturnalia by Electro-Coil limbs crash about blood by boil Slice and dice, feel the groove getting somewhere by being rude Some say it will not last Love lost/ Grace tumbles fast what was Aluminum and Steel is a mistress made real 5/7/10
Between grains of sand Far apart in distant lands 150,000 strong Training night and day what had been gay reverie Becomes sober revelrie Movements began that fateful play 50 miles by bootstrap wide Advancing on dictate's station Fighting for a cause beyond nation Shoulder to Shoulder by foxhole side What had seemed so long was but the passing of the sun Sees sons, fathers excised among Twilight reveals 10,000 faces gone 2/27/10
Stormfront With quickened breath One settle's for war An unbalanced time for evening the score An anticipation of spoils and booty leaves faces darkened and loved one's moody The drills have paid off the archers have fled Found fast footing so easily sped To the Unknown Soldier No One knows of thy resting place your hunger for peace, your fasting grace Man to man and tip to tip Gives men credence to final lip Victory! O'Buaidh! fills the air with cries the smell of defeat the insufferable flies The red mist splatters about each man a Cu' in this bloody rout Stumbling, cursing, a raised hand gives no thought of noble band No time for praying, the battle is over What had been of noble youth Gives birth from crimson to clover 1/26/2010
The Grand Tour Speeding across the Continent Enjoying the little nooks and Valleys hills and Mountains A freedom in reserve more and more power To spare Heel and Toe Double Clutch Matching, Syncing in Harmony Heel and Toe Double Clutch A feeling of heightened nerve A symphony on earth and in air Bend the weight of graceful carriage Every reason to swerve Knowing not what tommorrow will bring Enjoy this moment This Place This Style This Grace This...Face 11/29/09
For a couple of Marines I owe a lot too and to whom Scarlet and Gold were more than just colors. You can have your army Kakhis, And your navy blues, Here's a different sort of fighting man, I'll introduce to you. His uniform is unlike Any you've ever seen; And the Germans called him Devil Dog, But his real name is Marine! He was born on Parris Island The land that God forgot. The sand was 14 inches deep, the sun was blazing hot. He'd get up every morning, Way before the sun, And he'd run a hundred miles or more, Before the day was done. He fought in the cold of Korea, In the heat of Viet Nam. When ever our country goes to war, The Marines are first to land. We'll fight them on the ground, We'll fight them in the sky, When the Army and Navy are heading home, The Marines are standing by. And when he gets to heaven, To St. Peter he will tell, "One more Marine reporting, Sir, I've served my time in Hell!"
Your post has moved me to tears. As I was reading, I was reminded of the loss of my good friend last month, Orville (Blacky) Blackburn. Blacky was a turret gunner on the B29 incindiary runs over Tokyo, he was 84. Sadly another Silver Star has retired. Rob McKinney
Sorry to hear about your friend. All I can say is you are obviously richer for having known him, for that you are very lucky. And our country was very lucky to have men like him when we needed them most.
What is so sad is, we, Joe Blo in the streets don't honor and enjoy them as much as we should while they are with us. I see these guys all of the time, because I associate with them and thier families. My good friend Joe Finn's Father John Finn, is the oldest living CMH recipient. John Will be 101 July 23. Last week Joe had to put his father into a VA nursing home in San Diego. John is failing and it is sooo sad. We are very quickly running out of our WWII heros. Another one is John (Jack) Walker. Jack is 85, and is in a va rest home. He flew P38s, and was an ace. He has one of the neatest senses of humor I have ever seen. One day I must make a list of all of the heros that have touched my life in the last 15 yrs, the list is long, and the stories are amazing. Thanks for your comments. Rob
In the above post I told you about John Finn. Yessterday 5-27-10 John passed away. Truly a sad day. Rob I will try to get some pix of his memorial.
