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Actions of the Past (WWI)

September 4, 2012
By SophiaGilbert SILVER, Cambridge, Massachusetts
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SophiaGilbert SILVER, Cambridge, Massachusetts
5 articles 2 photos 3 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Either the wallpaper goes, or I do"

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No soldier fought that did not die,
In heart, or mind, no man unharmed.
All men the same under smoggy sky.
Like bloody butchers death was farmed,
No way to stop the loathsome harm.
The recruiters did their work too well
Propaganda’s unrelenting charm.
The boom and crash of a distant shell
Scarce heard by those now too eager
To serve their country now and forever,
All disbelief at the ceaseless death figure
Brave young men are but a lever.
The shells will fall and men will burn
Unless it stops you will take your turn.

© Jennifer A., Plattsburgh, NY

The author's comments:
I was thinking about how propaganda was used in WWI to convince young men to join the war. I think it is important to honor soldiers, but also to understand that war itself is not nobel in most cases.
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JOIN THE DISCUSSION

This article has 8 comments.

Prehistoric-Fool GOLD said...
on Sep. 22 2012 at 11:38 pm
Prehistoric-Fool GOLD, Wellesley, Massachusetts
16 articles 2 photos 23 comments

Favorite Quote:
“Every path is the right path. Everything could’ve been anything else. And it would have just as much meaning.”
—
Nemo Nobody

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Nice, I've been searching for WWI poems on here... Although a few rhymes were a bit forced, overall- good job(: check out my -Wounds of War poem, it's on the same general topic (WWI)
Emily_Greene GOLD said...
on Sep. 21 2012 at 5:20 pm
Emily_Greene GOLD, Spring Valley, California
10 articles 0 photos 41 comments
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Very nice, 5 stars. Hope you check out my work too.
Lisa said...
on Sep. 12 2012 at 7:56 pm
Beautiful. This reminds me of poems written long ago, where the weight of the falling bodies together with the press of ink to paper were deeply felt. Thanks for publishing this lovely poem.
allie_michelle13 SILVER said...
on Sep. 10 2012 at 10:11 am
allie_michelle13 SILVER, Gainesville, Florida
5 articles 0 photos 3 comments

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I really like this! I love the line that talks about how every soldier died somehow. Good viewpoint! (:
richardsonjb said...
on Sep. 9 2012 at 8:13 am
Words are powerful and even more so when woven together skillfully in poetry.  This transports us to the battlefield and calls us to conscience and action.  May both youth and their guardians heed -- and may this young poet continue to cultivate her talent and her craft!
ASFSS said...
on Sep. 7 2012 at 8:03 am
Wow powerful piece!!  The imagery comes forward as well as the message of how "going to war" becomes glorified.  Keep writing!
Rainbow Bridge said...
on Sep. 6 2012 at 7:20 pm
This poem is so very insightful; such an empathetic understanding of soldiers.
DolphinSP said...
on Sep. 6 2012 at 2:47 pm
The poem truly captures the "weather" of WWII in it's cloudy, bloody, scary depths. Good use of rhyme but without being tied to it. Keep writing!