When death is closer than home....."It's a long way to Tipperary"

Each knew his fate......

"Its a long way to Tipperary....."

A single voice the silence pierced
to drift through cordite air,
to rise above the clouds of death
forlorn, tinged with despair.

"Its a long way to go....."

Along the trench more voices joined
a choir now on death row,
ironic that they sang of home
for their fate they all did know.

"Its a long way to Tipperary....."

Across the mire where no man lived
o'er blood and stench and gore,
their song fell onto enemy
and through each heart it tore.

"to the sweetest girl I know....."

They'd be no winners in this war
only those that better fared,
a whole generations blooming youth
wars horror brutally pared.

"goodbye Piccadily....."

The brave who sang that fateful day
brothers, fathers, uncles, sons,
would perish going "over the top"
Scythed down by chattering guns.

"Farewell Leicester square....."

Now fields abloom with blood red flowers
blue skies, and larks on high,
remember the wanton sacrifice
of those that came to fight and die.....

"Its a long, long, way to Tipperary,
but my heart's right there"

Reviews

[Wolf Alfatherson]

So, sooooo true. There really is no such thing as a "good war". War is nothing but a giant woodchipper of death which devours entire generations of good, innocent young men to satisfy the petty whims of those in power.

[Gee]

Cheers Wolf A

[Sarah_Allen]

The title immiately drew me in. And the poem failed to disapoint :D
it's a sad thing you've written about and I love the way you've gently taken that and touched it with your words. "They'd be no winners in this war" this struck me the most. I don't know exactly why but I like it the most. This is a fantastic poem I so very much appreciate!

[Gee]

Thank you Sarah, I'm chuffed you enjoyed the read.

[BBP]

I read this before and I liked it again! It reminds me of an irish song, telling a story in perfect harmony and balance and history.

[Gee]

Thank you kindly. Hope you and yours are well.

[The Walking Queen]

There are both strength and weakness in the arts of war. Your pen is strong and your thoughts latent with a melancholic beauty. Excellent Job Gee!

[Gee]

Thank you kindly

[.]

you featured this and I see that I reviewed a year ago....
I still think my review holds true. how sad right?
beautifully written, yet still we have heavy hearts because of things happening around us.
you write some fun, light, silly stuff but also remind us with pieces like this what a talent you are

[Gee]

You are to kind, but thank you.
Hope all is well with you

[Juliespenhere]

i just r e read this as it came up on the featuring and Im so glad you featured this.
I love this
i think this hsould be featured all the time.
its a great meaninful poem showing how the soldiers sang but you put verses in between very descriptive and emotional. I love it so talented.
so moving great work
by the way you didnt trivialise war at all

[Gee]

Thank you Julie :)

[CLR9]

Ok, I cracked the code you sneaky bugger. Each ellipses has a different number of dots. It goes 5 dots, 5 dots, 3 dots, 7 dots, 8 dots, 9 dots, then 8 dots. So, it is seven numbers-- 5537898. Suspiciously like an American phone number. 553-7898.

What a dang mystery.

Grate pome.

[Gee]

LOL, I will, henceforth, address this as a matter of urgency. I'll be fucked if all and sundry start calling Donald Trump hairdresser, candy floss Ken. He can only knit one hair do a week.
Thank you CLR9,

[George David Hope]

What a fantastic piece of work. I'm really into history especially the Great War so I could just imagine the poor lads marching through all the mud on their way to the trenches. Makes my little ditty's about WW1 look like they've been written by a 5 year old.

[Gee]

Not at all.
Thanks George

[kitty]

Love is the only assurance whe in despair and all seems lost. Something to hope for. Poignant write. Brings about the cruelty of wars. Calls on bitter sweet memories.

[Gee]

Thank you Kitty

[kitty]

My pleasure!

[Christine Anne Shaw]

Wonderful writing Gee which describes the futility of warfare. It makes me shudder at the sacrifice, all those men who knew the chances of coming out alive were zilch. But that song, and many others they would have sung to remind them of home and their loved ones even in the bleakest moments. Well done.

Chris

[Gee]

Thank you Christine. Doesn't bear thinking about the horrors those young fellas faced. Death probably welcomed by some.
Thank you, hope Berks is warmer than Bucks..

[Christine Anne Shaw]

brrh not so warm today Gee.