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

Each knew his fate... With the 11th of the 11th looming time to give this oldie an airing

"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

[Julie McCarthy (juliesp..]

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!

[Chris 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..

[Chris Shaw]

brrh not so warm today Gee.

[matelotrod]

Brilliant piece Gee, better understood by the aged I reckon. It certainly was a Long way to Tipperary for those young soldiers and many of them didn't make it. This is a poem of respect to those who never made it back. I think I'd better stop before I become too upset. thanks for this one. Rod.

[Gee]

Thanks Rod. Staggering so many sacrificed. Would that happen today with immediate access to witness such horrors ?? I doubt it very much.
Cheers

[matelotrod]

Hope to God it is never repeated. Fingers crossed. Rod.

[‘Thoughts In Time..]

Love that song- you bring each word to life full meaning- sad cold place to be but much honour and respect for those that chose to stand for what they believed right and for the love of fellow man and country- more hearts need to humble themselves- wonderful🌹

[Gee]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed as this is one of my own personal favourites.

[‘Thoughts In Time’🌹]

Great minds think alike- my pleasure🌹

[Suhd]

Ah! The horrors of war. Beautifully written.

[Gee]

Thank you..

[Bonnie Paige]

WOW! Those words made me slowly see that story about men gathering together to fight and die. How true and how sad. A history lesson in a poem. Great work.

[Gee]

Thank you Bonnie. Have you ever listened to the song ?

[Bonnie Paige]

Yes I have. I loved on London many years ago. SW2