With heart in hand, do I stand tall?
With comrades fallen, now so small
And in the mound of earth
Beneath my feet!
With heart in hand, now I command
To all who left behind
Loved ones, young and old alike
In honour, remembered now are we!
With heart in hand, our lives stand we
If once our bodies tall
Did friends and I, stand side by side
Although my comrades fell
And left me all alone!
But now my chance, has come, at last
In full honour dwell
For now I may be crimpled,
Yet I stand so tall!
For now my shadow’s my best friend
Full military honour, I salute
To one and all, and
All for One, in Grand Salute
Do I stand so tall!
© sew 2012
An oration with the familiar strains of an Elgar melody playing in the background ?
What do you mean please Louis?
I simply wrote this poem when my friend posted a picture of an elderly solider at the rememberance wall. He was all crumpled, but his shadow a former glorious solider. Then the poem. just came to me!
Thank you for sharing those insights with us.Poets and poetry aficionadoes alike are often intruiged by what lies behind certain work and what the sources of inspiration are for the poet.
You are more than welcome Louis!
Lovely tribute and glorified the sacrificeof a soldier Sharon..
I am simply touched by this beautiful and intense poem.