It all depends upon you point of view

It all depends upon your point of view

It was early in 1940

Mother and young child walking along a Scottish High Street

The castle gates opened; a band struck up

Drums banging a march beat - Bum; Bum: Bum; Bum

The bagpipe squirls joined in

An officer carrying his unsheathed sword pointing upwards

A Saltire flag flanked by two men Rifles with fixed bayonets on their shoulders

Pipe Majour in all his spledure followed closely by the pipe band

A column of Scots soldiers;

Kilts and full regalia all with rifles with fixed bayonets

A crowd had gathered on the street

Cheering, calling out, waving flags

The young child began to cheer

"Stop that" the mother said

"Dont cheer; say a prayer for them"

"Why Mum ?

They are all cheering ?

"They are going to war and need our prayers" mum replied

"We must remember them when we say our prayers in the evening"

So it was added to the ritual prayers following

Please take care of daddy and keep him safe

Please look after all the soldier men and keep them safe

Author's Note

I had tears myself as I finished this story
I changed the way I viewed all the pictures of men marching off to war
Oh and the lines of refugees - looking for a safe place to settle

Reviews

[Ken Simm.]

So many points in this it would be difficult to cover them all. Suffice it to say it is extremly well composed and all those points hit home just as they should, I feel. The pathos and almost melancoly with hindsight of the latter parts is mirrored beautifully in the first almost joyous parade.

[Wild Rose]

Thanks I was brought up during WWII
I do remember them marching out to war; training over go & put it to use . Didn't see dad agin until 1945I/ you could understand Dont cheer them - say prayers for them - someones son/ husband ..... taken away for what ? Will they return
Grandad was severely wounded out of WWI & lived with his injuries for the rest of his life

Will they return? will they sound or permenantly disfigured/ disabled ??

Say your prayers for them and those who follow in their place

[Hasan669]

A powerful piece of writing. I can see why you called it a story rather than a poem. Very descriptive and the characters come to life as one reads the story. A very strong message for everyone who tends to cheer at soldiers going to war, and the last few lines add to the emotive strength when we learn that one of the soldiers going to war is the child's father and there is absolutely no certainty he will return home to his family.

[augustus]

So very sad! War is a dreadful business and should never be repeated.

[Wild Rose]

That is human kind each wanting their own way

[augustus]

How true in this modern world!

[Coyote Poetry]

I liked the concept of prayer for the soldiers.
"So it was added to the ritual prayers following
Please take care of daddy and keep him safe
Please look after all the soldier men and keep them safe"
I left family often. I didn't want wife and children at deployment. Prayers are needed for the soldiers off to war. Thank you dear friend for sharing the outstanding poetry.
Coyote

[Wild Rose]

Thank you Coyote > Prayers are all that those left at home can do
Actualy it will be added into my story of wartime childhood

[Coyote Poetry]

A wonderful chapter and you are welcome my dear friend.

[g.r.]

What a tender, thoughtful work of LOVE this is. Fine job

[Wild Rose]

Memories > we were living in St Andrews > dad was stationed near by
Shortly after he was moved to much less safe place

[barleygirl]

I love this! This is such an original way to SHOW instead of pontificate about this huge difference in the way "war" is considered. I really choke at the glorification of war & all it's implements. I wonder how much of that is done to convince people of the need for war & to encourage those who must fight these wars . . . like a dizzying trance, everyone follows our leaders blindly. Your satire is deeply satisfying to me, reminding that we should always look at the more complex aspects of war (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Wild Rose]

Thank you Margie > I was five but it changed meI never clapped and cheered at people going to war read moreThank you Margie > I was five but it changed meI never clapped and cheered at people going to war
Even when they showed pictures on the cinema, with Gracie Fields etc. singing to the troops "Well meet again"

[Lydia Shutter]

Citizens cheering as the young people go off to war...while some of them are moms and dads and are hiding their tears because they fear their sons and daughters will not return. All soldiers deserve our prayers. Your words paint a vivid picture of what you remember as a child...must have been terrifying for you. Lydi**

[Wild Rose]

Thanks Lydia > Well I didn't realise the actual situation - Only dad was away, we had moved to St Andrews some three months earlier, now dad had left again and we were going back to our family home

[Paul Bell]

It seems strange men marching off to war.
Like it was some sort of jolly.
Sadly the war to end all wars failed miserably.
But we must never forget the people who died to set us free.

[Wild Rose]

In the forces you are indoctrinated to follow orders what ever
Had a dose of that when collecting a brake parachute there were problems collecting it and an aircraft following required an immediate (emergency ) landing we could give it a clear runway only by moving our truck and leaving the parachute.

The ATC officer said we would be court marshalled > You will have no one to defend you

I was on the combined services cycling team and had contacts with more superior officers

They had him banned from working on anything related to flying, demoted and moved to another station

Yes we do remember those who lost their lives > specially friends who died in various ways while serving

[Chris Shaw]

The cheering and waving off must have been to boost the morale of those going off to fight.The stiff upper lip and all that. Inside, as a mother and grandmother I would have been weeping buckets. Weeping because of the carnage my loved one was about to face and weeping for whether I would ever see them again. And even if they did make it home their minds would never be the same. Well written, left me feeling unsettled Wild Rose.

Chris

[Wild Rose]

Thanks > Please read my Author's Note
We had moved to St Andrews dad was a corporal airframe fitter and had just been moved to the South Coast where there was a lot of action & his skills were needed - air fields were being bombed and we were packing to return to Huddersfield > Not necessarily safer there were factories making tanks & explosives in the area > A target area, but home with family

[KWP]

YEs we should cheer them for their sacrifice, but does this mean we condone the killing of others? This others that too have families, hopes & dreams for the rest of their lives, Is a prayer enough when decisions are made in assumed high places. How much is one human life worth? Any human life?

Thought provoking - thanksX

[Wild Rose]

Thanks KWP They were cheering them on Mum was packing to return to our family - while dad had been moved to a dangerous area to repair aircraft
Prayers? What do you say to a 5 year old??

[Edie Blue Starfish]

I guess the cheers and celebration are meant to boost morale and mask the ugly truth that many will be killed or wounded. It is quite moving when you put the lens on it that you have.

[Wild Rose]

Thanks I tried to convey both side a moral boost for those on their way to conflict
Thoughts of husband and father who had just been moved to a place of danger