Too many were to mourn.The war
Had taken all the young, but left
Behind a few who stumbled, blind
Or lame, some, faring worse, bereft
Of sense, writhed in screaming pain
And cursed their God. The shame will last
Through poems scratched in bloody line
By this dead lad, now, though passed
Away, he'd used his searing muse to pen
Accusing rhyme of each fierce horror,
As he captained men, who then
With him were brought to early dust.
Hard death then made another claim,
Fame this bard, alive, would never know.
Just days before the very final blast
He fell, the ditches he'd despised
As living hell, were holding him at last.
Trusty words preserved in clarion verse
Still cry, that lying yet, where long ago
They died, such spilled blood serves to
Teach a truth, that learn from war we must.
Tribute to Wilfred Owen - 1893-1918
Killed 4th November,1918.
A poignant tribute to an exceptional poet. Thank you for this one Fay. Glad I came across your page. j.
It's a fine tribute to a poet, although I admit not one of my favurite poets, he died so close to the end of the war that was his muse... Andrew 10
Fay, WW1 was a terrible war which spawned more poets than other wars. Wilfred Owen was most probably the best known. I quote...from his Anthem for Doomed Youth..... 'Their flowers the tenderness of patient minds, And each slow dusk a drawing-down of blinds. The flowers no doubt were Poppies. 10/10 You caught his mood. Bob T
This is a deeply moving poem, and a wonderful tribute to the poet Wilfred Owen, Fay. It is such a tragedy that he died within one week of the ending of the Great War. I have had the privilege to read many of the noted World War I poets, and besides our own Joyce Kilmer, I have read Robert Service and many others including Wilfred Owen. He was only twenty-five when he died, yet some others died even younger. Your very expressive poem is beautifully written and will hopefully cause some readers to look for his poetry and some of the poetry of the other famous Great War poets as well. Carl.
Since you wrote such a great tribute you made me want to find out about the man himself.. next up. research Owen. thank you
A great tribute indeed. Owen was the greatest soldier poet of World War One. Brilliant work
Words of tribute befitting a Master Wordsmith, who left behind his verses far too eoon. smooth structure....sterling imagework...Solid Work, as can always be expected from Fay Slimm work! FjR
Fay.... Beautiful tribute to a wonderful Poet. The poetry of WW1 is very moving and poignant, I read it a lot. I often wonder about the changes that took place between WW1 and WW11, that there isn't a similar poetry tradition from WW11 See my....All The Boys.....and Verdun Return.... Also may I recommend a small poem by Edward Thomas....The Cherry Trees... Let me know Thanks Martin
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
Thankyou Fay one of my favourite poets 10 Chris