tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post2704197941129407018..comments2024-03-28T17:44:17.403-07:00Comments on The Weaver of Grass: Jaw, Jaw, Jaw!The Weaver of Grasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13947971556343746883noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-79521497586999530342009-08-04T07:23:06.768-07:002009-08-04T07:23:06.768-07:00I found your post very interesting and the poem is...I found your post very interesting and the poem is very moving. I am amazed that those two gentlemen had survived so long after their friends were killed. I have read quite a lot about the First World War and it was such a terrible waste of human life. Surely after all these centuries, the intelligent person must know that war is pointless and no one ever wins. Churchill was a man of his time. He fits the saying well "come the hour, come the man.Cathyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07095469968246647873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-72710118483220824592009-07-31T19:58:14.655-07:002009-07-31T19:58:14.655-07:00My hair is standing on end. there are tears in my ...My hair is standing on end. there are tears in my eyes, the poem id deeply moving in the way only poetry can be, because of that echo and resonance that make it so personal. All we can do is to keep talking, about the past, lest we forget the cost, and the futility. Thanks for a deeply touching and thought provoking post. That's twice this week you've stopped me dead in my tracks.debhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08943411721370422914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-45897054881678347882009-07-31T18:31:49.882-07:002009-07-31T18:31:49.882-07:00I shall indeed look up that poem. I had heard of ...I shall indeed look up that poem. I had heard of Mr. Allingham's passing. He saw so much in his lifetime, didn't he?<br /><br />It is always a conundrum to try and separate the hatred of war from the admiration for the brave ones who fight it. While there is no doubt in my mind for the necessity for the war in the 40's, so many wars since have seemed the follies of misguided men. At least to me.<br /><br />And, as I said to my husband the other night as I was reading poetry...so many poets write about death. Even if the poem seems to start out in a different direction it so often wheels around to that subject. Perhaps because it is the one universal experience?<br /><br />Wishing you a lovely weekend. I am still going through all the inspiration posts and enjoying myself so much!!! Thanks!Pamela Terry and Edwardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12746603636884819522noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-60139072490719839072009-07-31T18:08:51.741-07:002009-07-31T18:08:51.741-07:00oh how wonderful! and the 1940's week sounds f...oh how wonderful! and the 1940's week sounds fabulous! I read that quote and could understand what he meant.Amyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17076349937962262361noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-70581074877640226102009-07-31T17:45:10.015-07:002009-07-31T17:45:10.015-07:00I often wonder what people mean when they talk abo...I often wonder what people mean when they talk about 'glorifying war', it tends to sound like a platitude spouted thoughtlessly. And really, do some people believe that dressing up and eating spam fritters for a weekend is so thrilling that it could cause one nation to invade another? <br /><br />There was a whole section in (I think last) Saturday's Guardian Review of new war poetry commissioned by Ms Duffy, including the one you mention by the lady herself, some of it very good indeed. If I could find the damn thing I'd give you a taste, it's here somewhere...Erylhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06008344023000459577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-88470542774817804872009-07-31T16:28:50.885-07:002009-07-31T16:28:50.885-07:00I echo Cloudia's comments.
Also, family feuds ...I echo Cloudia's comments.<br />Also, family feuds are really bad. I am amazed at how much family does this.Jenn Jilkshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05259681360456905055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-340828318107585182009-07-31T11:56:21.856-07:002009-07-31T11:56:21.856-07:00Thank you for taking me to an event that I've ...Thank you for taking me to an event that I've mused on. Thanks, Sir.<br /><br />Joyce Kilmer: "I think that I shall never see- a poem lovely as a tree." Another WWI casualty and so many other poets, fathers, children. . .<br /><br />I'm gazing at my Dad's WWII "Dog" tag. He's been gone 2 months.....<br /><br />A fine post - as usual, Weaver.<br /><br />Aloha<br /><br /><a href="http://comfortspiral.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Comfort Spiral</a>Cloudiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05853753108637831069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-77371748718725418522009-07-31T10:45:07.435-07:002009-07-31T10:45:07.435-07:00Well, my mum grew up in Newbury, and joined the AT...Well, my mum grew up in Newbury, and joined the ATS during WWII. My dad was in the US Navy, they met and married, and she was the first GI bride to step off the first ship in NYC after the war ended.<br />There is a video out there, and even though it is grainy, you can see her smiling face.<br />I have heard stories of Churchill and the war, and the hard times ever since I was a little girl.<br />I never felt that she was glorifying war, telling me about it. Instead, she was instilling in me a faith in humanity, and giving me an understanding and admiration of what people in hard times are capable of.<br />Loved your post.<br />Going to let my mum read it.<br />She is 84.Hilaryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02528439226293446420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-75257479662758749142009-07-31T10:37:14.737-07:002009-07-31T10:37:14.737-07:00I think the words that always get me are, 'The...I think the words that always get me are, 'They shall not grow old as we that are left grow old.' So heart rending.HelenMWaltershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16182100572365505905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-3040776401440736492009-07-31T09:00:29.126-07:002009-07-31T09:00:29.126-07:00What moving and eloquent poems. Marking the end t...What moving and eloquent poems. Marking the end these mens lives with ceremony and hono(u)r gives us an opportunity for reflection and gratitude.Jane Moxeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03771039102502842946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-42733986378112591072009-07-31T07:06:29.027-07:002009-07-31T07:06:29.027-07:00I've known many service members, all of whom d...I've known many service members, all of whom dislike war as much as anyone. I honor their courage and sacrifice and am thankful to sleep safely, thanks to them.Golden Westhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04590087189810939432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-28137505822879936772009-07-31T06:23:59.304-07:002009-07-31T06:23:59.304-07:00hello weaver, i was drawn to your observations abo...hello weaver, i was drawn to your observations about the little controversy over the "40's weekend". i wasn't around in the fourties and so i am speaking as a child of the fifties/sixties. i have been opposed to war for my entire life. sometimes actively, more often passively. my own sense is that the only positive about war is that for whatever reasons it brings people together on the homefront in a way that very few other causes do. people treasure that feeling of a common purpose, of community, of setting aside most of their differences. i believe that that is what draws people to weekends like that. i don't blame them. have a lovely day. stevenstevenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14132104804524716898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-67767769407342930212009-07-31T05:57:27.765-07:002009-07-31T05:57:27.765-07:00After both world wars Europe was subdivided by the...After both world wars Europe was subdivided by the victors causing even more heartache and problems than the wars themselves.<br />Wars are a totally futile expression of greed.Arijahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03720793296992474762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-17103120063178515172009-07-31T05:43:33.740-07:002009-07-31T05:43:33.740-07:00Hello Weaver,
Thank you for drawing this to my at...Hello Weaver,<br /><br />Thank you for drawing this to my attention. The poem is excellent and I'm taking the liberty of pasting it here for your readers. It is taken from the Times Online website. Thanks too, to Elizabeth for the Sassoon poem, which is equally powerful.<br /><br /><b>Last Post</b> by Carol Ann Duffy – Poet Laureate.<br /><br />In all my dreams, before my helpless sight,<br />He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning.<br />If poetry could tell it backwards, true, begin <br />that moment shrapnel scythed you to the stinking mud . . .<br />but you get up, amazed, watch bled bad blood <br />run upwards from the slime into its wounds; <br />see lines and lines of British boys rewind <br />back to their trenches, kiss the photographs from home — <br />mothers, sweethearts, sisters, younger brothers <br />not entering the story now <br />to die and die and die. <br />Dulce — No — Decorum — No — Pro patria mori. <br />You walk away. <br />You walk away; drop your gun (fixed bayonet) <br />like all your mates do too — <br />Harry, Tommy, Wilfred, Edward, Bert — <br />and light a cigarette. <br />There’s coffee in the square, <br />warm French bread <br />and all those thousands dead <br />are shaking dried mud from their hair <br />and queuing up for home. Freshly alive, <br />a lad plays Tipperary to the crowd, released <br />from History; the glistening, healthy horses fit for heroes, kings. <br />You lean against a wall, <br />your several million lives still possible <br />and crammed with love, work, children, talent, English beer, good food. <br />You see the poet tuck away his pocket-book and smile. <br />If poetry could truly tell it backwards, <br />then it would.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00861397533660827678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-59209450135588230992009-07-31T05:42:39.504-07:002009-07-31T05:42:39.504-07:00The poem is here.
And you're right - such a ...The poem is <a href="http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/willheaven/100005170/carol-ann-duffy%E2%80%99s-%E2%80%98last-post%E2%80%99-is-a-fitting-tribute-to-henry-allingham-his-fallen-comrades/" rel="nofollow">here</a>. <br /><br />And you're right - such a simple device in a way but it works up some very powerful images...almost on its own. And that is the key to genius quite often - using simple things well and with interesting intention!<br /><br />xRachel Foxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11803852725693518924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-9425540891467076782009-07-31T05:13:35.332-07:002009-07-31T05:13:35.332-07:00Your post and Heather and Elizabeth's comments...Your post and Heather and Elizabeth's comments are heart-rending. The futility of it all - the heartbreak of it all. And we don't seem to learn! We just keep right on warring with our brothers and sisters on this tiny little planet. But we must learn and we won't learn if we forget. Thank you for this post.<br /><br />Funny, Weaver, I quote Churchill in my post today too - but on a much less serious note.Bonnie Zieman, M.Ed.https://www.blogger.com/profile/00282469017360136275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-81040871250249347682009-07-31T04:32:51.353-07:002009-07-31T04:32:51.353-07:00Sassoon's poem
Does it Matter? (1917)
still pa...Sassoon's poem<br />Does it Matter? (1917)<br />still packs a punch<br /><br />Does it matter?-losing your legs?<br />For people will always be kind,<br />And you need not show that you mind<br />When others come in after hunting<br />To gobble their muffins and eggs.<br />Does it matter?-losing your sight?<br />There’s such splendid work for the blind;<br />And people will always be kind,<br />As you sit on the terrace remembering<br />And turning your face to the light.<br />Do they matter-those dreams in the pit?<br />You can drink and forget and be gald,<br />And people won't say that you’re mad;<br />For they know that you've fought for your country,<br />And no one will worry a bit.Elizabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03964291132366262298noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-29297355233043764542009-07-31T04:05:35.924-07:002009-07-31T04:05:35.924-07:00I will look out for that poem Weaver and oh how I ...I will look out for that poem Weaver and oh how I agree with Churchill's words. Harry Patch has been quoted as saying that the appalling sacrifices made during the First World War were not worth it and he should know. I cannot bring myself to read the war poems but maybe we should all be made to read them. I think I must have a selfish streak as I am so grateful that my son is safely retired from the Army and not serving in Afghanistan. I don't know how I would cope with that - it must be a nightmare for the families.Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06826501916623305535noreply@blogger.com