Few places on the face of Earth can be so lonely as this crowded line of men with backgrounds far removed from mine. A Lawyer from Carlisle invited to fight for king and empire. Little choice I had. One day cycling to court the daughter of a family friend the next it seemed in khaki, a pistol in my hand and whistle ready for the off. These men are rough, uncouth, not Bible-raised like me with mother caring what the neighbours think. In Father’s words I must uphold the honour of our country and our name. In Father’s eyes I saw the glint of fear.
At my whistle men will rise as one. Together we shall plod through calf deep mud toward the rattling guns. Pointing stumps, once trees, in silhouette accuse the glowering sky. Only Death fares well these misty mornings on the Somme. Farewell sweet Molly Brown I doubt I’ll live to see your smile again. And if I do will you still recognise the wreck that slithers from this foreign field? Suppose in some yet unimagined age our situations should reverse would you then fight? This I doubt. Your realistic sex would rapidly reject that call and overpower the bogus lure of pride.
So battle’s done. Silence falls like endless night and we are earth again absorbed by Nature in the roots of flowers and grass on undulations echoing the lonely lines and dugouts where we fought. If in that future time some kind enlightened souls should come to seek our shadows in the earth, what artefacts might last when every other trace of us is gone? Perhaps some button, badge or personal possession could put names to our anonymous remains? Until that day these grassy mounds will stay a windswept place where children play, where life goes on and half a generation lie. Restless.
An ex-electrician with the odd short story and article published in print and online, Oscar Windsor-Smith seeks sufficient writing income to match the grandiose name he hides behind. Born on the Wirral, Cheshire, UK, Oscar now infests rural Hertfordshire supported by one patient wife and tolerated by four dismissive cats. He is manifestly not a poet, but that fact is no impediment to his dreams. You can find Oscar on Twitter (@OscarWindsor) and you can hear him read this poem here
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22 Responses to “FAREWELL SWEET MOLLY BROWN • by Oscar Windsor-Smith”
Comments
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November 11th, 2011 at 1:15 am
Love that last line: where life goes on and half a generation lie – Nice to see some of your work, Oscar.
November 11th, 2011 at 3:34 am
The author manifestly IS a poet. A poignant and evocative piece.
November 11th, 2011 at 3:39 am
A fitting tribute of remembrance Oscar on this particular day. 11/11/11
November 11th, 2011 at 4:06 am
Very thought provoking and a most suitable choice of poem for today.
November 11th, 2011 at 7:15 am
Tender, sad and so true. One to remember.
November 11th, 2011 at 8:45 am
From the penultimate paragraph:
“Your realistic sex would rapidly reject that call and overpower the bogus lure of pride.” Excuse me? Who is trying to overpower the pride of whom?
The writer very well caught the self-pitying absorption-in-self of some who suffer along with others but believe that since it is THEY who have a call to duty, there is included with that duty, their right to be above it.
Very excellent writing and character development.
I suppose it’s poetry and not story because it’s not a “beginning, middle, and end” development through time. This is where poetry and story come together. Excellent writing.
This is a real fiver day.
November 11th, 2011 at 10:25 am
Wonderful stuff, Oscar. Perfect choice for today.
November 11th, 2011 at 10:30 am
Perhaps some button, badge or personal possession could put names to our anonymous remains?
one more tear has fallen
a fine piece of writing
November 11th, 2011 at 2:02 pm
I was not never a devote of prose poetry, reading this has converted me. Exquisitely phrased and metered, it carried to the very end. Right up there with the unforgettable traditional form poem “In Flanders Fields.”
November 11th, 2011 at 3:44 pm
Nicely done, Oscar! And Happy Veteran’s Day to you all.
November 11th, 2011 at 3:57 pm
Oscar has contacted us thanking everyone who has given their time to
read this piece, vote and comment. His previous four attempts vanished when he
hit ‘submit’.
We hope to address this technical difficuly soon.
November 11th, 2011 at 4:06 pm
This is my sixth attempt at thanking everyone who has given their time to read this piece, vote and comment. My previous five attempts vanished.
Thank you everybody, you are very kind.
Fingers crossed.
Here goes
November 11th, 2011 at 4:18 pm
And thanks very much to @Kathleen and @Oona for all the trouble they’ve been to on a Friday night in order to help sort the problems. Have a great weekend everybody. Goodnight and bye for now.
November 11th, 2011 at 11:30 pm
After standing still for 2 minutes in the supermarket today, and watching Remembrance events on TV, this prose poem sums it all up and left a lump in my throat.
Tomorrow is Remembrance Sunday and I think this should be read out for all to hear in church services around our small but proud country.
Well done Oscar.
November 12th, 2011 at 1:27 am
A fitting tribute for one of the hundreds of worldwide conflicts of the twentienth century.
November 12th, 2011 at 8:56 am
Bravo, Oscar. Excellent words.
November 12th, 2011 at 2:10 pm
A beautiful and poignant tribute to so many lost forever in conflict…but not forgotten. Well written Oscar, thoughtful and sad.
November 12th, 2011 at 2:35 pm
Thank you @Jennifer Walmsley, @Paul A. Freeman and @Douglas Pugh, also @Oonah Joslin, @Lynn Hudson (and others whose names are not visible) who have ‘liked’ the poem.
In all the confusion surrounding yesterday’s posting glitches I forgot to say how much I value each and every comment. Though I must also say particular thanks to @Lionel Brooke and @Jennifer Walmsley, whose comments I shall never forget. Thank you all.
Sincerely, Oscar
November 14th, 2011 at 1:40 am
A very worthy and beautiful tribute to all those who lost their lives, Oscar. I enjoyed it immensely. :]
November 14th, 2011 at 6:55 am
Many thanks @marion
December 15th, 2011 at 12:13 pm
Tip top stuff. I’ll epxcet more now.
December 16th, 2011 at 10:15 am
Thanks, Marlee. I’ll do my best, but no promises. Poetry is a foreign land to me.