[Vision2020] Joyce kilmer

[JLBrown]

Here you go, Roger.

Judy

 

Rouge Bouquet

by Joyce Kilmer

 

In a wood they call Rouge Bouquet

There is a new-made grave today,

Built by never a spade nor pick

Yet covered with earth 10 meters thick.

There lie many fighting men,

Dead in their youthful prime,

Never to laugh nor love again

Nor taste the Summertime.

For Death came flying through the air

And stopped his flight at the dugout stair,

Touched his prey and left them there,

Clay to clay.

He hid their bodies stealthily

In the soil of the land they fought to free

And fled away.

Now over the grave abrupt and clear

Three volleys ring;

And perhaps their brave young spirits hear

The bugles sing:

"Go to sleep!

Go to sleep!

Slumber well where the shell screamed and fell.

Let your rifles rest on the muddy floor,

You will not need them any more.

Danger's past;

Now at last,

Go to sleep!"

 

There is on earth no worthier grave

To hold the bodies of the brave

Than this place of pain and pride

Where they nobly fought and nobly died.

Never fear but in the skies

Saints and angels stand

Smiling with their holy eyes

On this new-come band.

St. Michael's sword darts through the air

and touches the aureole on his hair

As he sees them stand saluting there,

His stalwart sons:

And Patrick, Brigid, Columkill

Rejoice that in veins of warriors still

The Gael's blood runs.

And up to Heaven's doorway floats,

>From the wood called Rouge Bouquet,

A delicate cloud of bugle notes

That softly say:

"Farewell!

Farewell!

Comrades true, born anew, peace to you!

Your souls shall be where the heroes are

And your memory shine like the morning-star.

Brave and dear,

Shield us here.

Farewell!"

 

-----Original Message-----
From: vision2020-bounces at moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-bounces at moscow.com]
On Behalf Of lfalen
Sent: Saturday, January 21, 2012 10:59 AM
To: vision2020 at moscow.com
Subject: [Vision2020] Joyce kilmer

 

Trees by Joyce Kilmer is one of my favorite poems. He wrote "Rouge bouquet"
three days before he was killed during the World War I (1918). It waw
written as a tribute to a group of his fellow soldiers who were killed. He
read it over there graves. 

After he was killed, it was read over his grave. I wanted to post it here
but do not have the skills to do so. Perhaps someone with the request skills
can do so. 

Roger

 

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