Victorious Peace & The Furtive Glance
She leans, clutching a furled flag
And a bronze wreath which proclaims peace;
She exudes confidence and drama,
Her blessing of the dead and the trauma
Now permanent, resolute, heartbreaking
And the benevolence in her pose is curiously striking…
He turns, furtively eyeing the viewer
And raindrops bead upon a rueful expression,
Like sweat about tired, strained eyes,
Which display disdain for all the lies
Or the cruel reality of the undertaking:
And resigned, he trudges behind a tank, unyielding…
A smirking infantryman turns and leers,
A despatch rider grimaces his determination;
An officer checks his charges, assessing their fears
And the advance continues in silent contemplation…
A heavy naval gun for firing prepares,
A grim, grafting crew hauls each heavy shell;
An officer through his binoculars stares
And barefooted sailors await the onslaught of hell…
Pete Ray
July 2020
Stourbridge’s war memorial which features in Mary Stevens Park, Stourbridge.
Once situated in the High Street, the memorial’s main figure represents Victorious Peace, whilst the fine images of infantrymen, engineers, a despatch rider and a tank on one bronze panel are splendid.
On another panel the excellent scene is aboard a ship and the sailors are preparing shells for the large naval gun…
Impressive…
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