Bread
The bread in France was cheap in 1925.
As was the cheese,
as cows browse meadows that are richer than before the fire.
Before the fire the wheat fields were good.
After they are seas of poppy spotted gold.
More and more windmills re-built
as battlefields grow cold.
All the survivors feeling old.
Memories held, never told.
Troop trains replaced with Thomas Cook tours,
and so;
Dressed to the nines she arrives,
such stylish widows weeds.
Wearing the flapper smile that says
"We're better now".
When you know she is a liar.
As she heads towards the Menin gate
twisting a band of gold.
Surrounded by enormity
but grieving just one soul.
One of thousands of Thomas Cook battlefield tourists
eating bread and brie on the road.
As a million shadows enfold,
whispering unheard;
Like 3 Pin it 1Of course the bread and brie are good,
we fell here, this land wears our blood.
The cheese is good as is the bread,
the riches given by the glorious dead.
Enjoy
'tis not your fault we fell to the flood.But please, while you are here,
look beyond the cemetery walls.
Look into the fields.
Know that once we were a sea of blood
and now we are the bread.We nourish you so we are no longer dead.
We sway susurrating hymns instead.Β
Now we are the fields of gold.Β
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Comments
A STELLAR piece of poetic prose here Sir NIGEL!!!....... this flows so well it subtly sweeps you way into its historical value with absolutely STUNNING phrasing......creating imagery that is subtly powerful and compelling ~ the "bread and cheese" taking the entirety into poetic perfection because it is not only 'double entendre' but the heart of its foundation!!...... you my friend are capable of educating with such elegant brush strokes that the reader doesn't know that they are bathing in historical value until the very last stroke of your mighty pen!!......BRILLIANT write Nigel!!...... seriously!..... one of my favorite writes from you!!.......PINNED!!......wow!.......Kings to you!!!...... your cyber-friend and admirer..... Tony ?????β΄?β΄β€
Ps. Great formatting too?
Thank you so very much Tony.Β
I wrote this piece in 2016 for a spoken word night on Remembrance Sunday. I was scared silly that I had it right or not 'cos the local press and the mayor were there. Also in the audience was my friend Martin formally of the third parachute regiment and with some serious combat experience. When I looked out at the audience at the end of the poem I saw that he was crying. I have never been so proud or humbled.
I posted this intending to put a spoken word track to it but a mixture of my technophobia and Belgian lager is getting in the way.Β
Before Armistice day I will add the spoken word.
Thank you my friend
Nigel
I would like to hear your drunken slur LOL
Love this
I never slur sir, I am a trained actor. However technology I can screw up sober as a judge. It says that it's going to save as mp3 and then, um, just doesn't. I'll work it out as I have a couple of other remembrance pieces I would like to publish..Β
Lest we forget
Nigel.
Beautifully versed masterpiece Nigel
Thank you so much PoetessDarkly,
I think I took more care, and definitely more time, on this piece than anything else I've ever written. To do less would of been disrespectful.Β
It came from visiting the Menin Gate. The oppressive weight of those endless walls of names. The ones who were never found. The truly lost soldiers.
The countryside is beautiful though. Europe's basket for bread. Hence the poem.
Thank you again Poetess
Nigel.
it takes the bread out of babes mouths...just about right for this time of year, on a par with my favourite war poet Wilfred Owen..with a modern midas touch...well done NIGEL...
Pauline that is the greatest compliment anyone could pay a poet and you have taken me back a bit. Thank you
Nigel
think I should start reading mine...with a Yorkshire/Notts accent
'Course you should lass. If it's good enough for Dr. Who.......
Nigel, this piece of poetic imagery is absolutely wonderful.
Your and voice and words brought it to life as if I were watching poetry in motion!
I adore it! Well done! xx
Thank you so much Caron. And please gather the courage for open mic. I really think you'll get a lot out off it.
Nigel