..Where the Iron Crosses Grow..

[Woolgar]

Just came across this evocative poem, you may have seen it before but those who have not here it is ..

A thousand wars have left their mark,
On soldiers waiting in the dark.
Who meet with fate, the final blow,
In the place where iron crosses grow.

Who count the dead with haunted eyes,
Afraid that we might see the lies.
The victory march. The years of woe,
The place where iron crosses grow.

Where steel meets flesh, and crushes bone,
Where young men scream, or weep alone.
Where some die quick, and some die slow,
In the place where iron crosses grow.

Where blood once warm, now stains the leaf,
Where the dead are blind to living’s grief.
Where many come, but few will know,
The place where iron crosses grow.

Said one, ‘I will show you how we fight.
We rage against the dying light;
We rise to meet the deadly foe;
In the place where iron crosses grow.

‘Then I will show you how we die,
While cursing God. With choking sigh.
One final breath, and then we sow,
The place where iron crosses grow.’

A mother waits. Laments again
The madness that will blacken men.
Who reason spurn, and life forego,
In the place where iron crosses grow.

A thousand wars. The millions dead.
The wasted dreams. The words unsaid.
Eternal Flame. The marbled rows.
In fields where iron cross still grows.

[Adam M]

A nicely worded poem about the tragedies of war.

[big ned]

It's by Jim Lesses, he's done some nice videos of Cypress Hill Military Cemetery and Arlington as well I think. He's written a few anti war type songs too, including some that ol' Canadian hippie Neil Young has got up on his website.

After the Gold Rush, Ned.

[harryamb2]

if you are in the right/wrong mood it will bring tears.

[M18922]

Neil Young is one of my all time favorite singers in the world. The "Harvest" or "After the Gold Rush" LP record is always out when I decide to listen to music. He inspired me to play the Banjo . I was going to see him when he comes to Dublin but I decided I will see him when he plays some of his earlier music instead of his "Ballstothewalls" crazy horse music which he will be doing when he comes to Dublin. I am not that taken by psychedelic pill but its not bad.

Nice poem by the way, very evocative,
Pat

[cricketchris1944]

Thank you very much for posting this.
I have to say I really like it
chris