The Reims War Memorial
Fronted by a floral display of fleurs-de-lys,
The memorial dominates the Place de République
Like a theatrical stage, mounted
Upon bending white steps to feature
A writhing, dark human form.
Agonising about war, he curls in upon himself, harassed,
Scorned and hideously embarrassed,
Eternally and dramatically tortured,
Yet offering the fallen in battle no real release…
In the wings, stage right, honouring the Reims dead,
Every covered, pitying female head
Is bowed, sad eyes tightly closed with the pain
Of family loss and the inexorable, unenviable strain
Caused by the maimed, the missing and the slaughter
To every grieving mother, wife and daughter…
In the wings, stage left however, the forms ponder
The sacrifices made by the figures yonder:
Perhaps a soldier, an airman, a sailor, a nurse,
Lost in a war which was for a generation, a curse…
Pete Ray
29th September 2022
I can find no more words…
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