Saturday 11 November 2017

For the Fallen

You all probably know this one (or parts of it), it's the most famous of war poems in English. It was first published in The Times on September 21 1914, a few weeks after the First World War began on July 28 that year. Laurence was too old to enlist in the Great War but volunteered in hospitals helping wounded French Soldiers, and wrote For the Fallen in Cornwall shortly after the Battle of the Marne.


With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,
England mourns for her dead across the sea.
Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,
Fallen in the cause of the free.

Solemn the drums thrill; Death august and royal
Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres,
There is music in the midst of desolation
And a glory that shines upon our tears.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted;
They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years contemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

They mingle not with their laughing comrades again;
They sit no more at familiar tables of home;
They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;
They sleep beyond England's foam.

But where our desires are and our hopes profound,
Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,
To the innermost heart of their own land they are known
As the stars are known to the Night;

As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust,
Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain;
As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness,
To the end, to the end, they remain.

Laurence Binyon

Remembering all who went to battle and never came home.

Thank you.
today, tomorrow forever.

Ronnie
xx

11 comments:

Roz said...

Hi Ronnie, lovely post and I love the poem. Joining you in grattitude of the men and women who have served in our allied forces and their families.

Hugs
Roz

an English Rose said...

Hi Ronnie, great post, remembering today
love Jan, xx

Charlie said...

Hi Ronnie - Amen!

Our Bottoms Burn said...

Just tossing this out. Saying thank you for your service ends the conversation. Try asking a question like Where did you serve? And never ask about combat.

Hermione said...

What a lovely poem. I have never read it before, but I was very moved by it.

We cannot let future generations forget their sacrifice.

Hugs,
Hermione

Rosie Jones said...

I know the ‘They shall not grow old’ verse but have never read the whole poem before. Thank you for sharing it, Ronnie.
Rosie xx

Cat said...

Thank you for sharing this lovely post. Joining you in honoring all those who have or who are currently serving.

Hugs and blessings...Cat

MrJ said...

Beautiful monument, Ronnie.
Thank you

Eric51Amy49 said...

I'd never seen that poem, Ronnie, but it is lovely. Thank you for sharing and thank you to all of the families who are left behind and allowed their loved ones to give so much to us all.
Amy

Katie said...

Beautiful post, Ronnie! Thank you for sharing this very moving poem.

May we always remember the brave men and women who have sacrificed so much, and continue to do the same. Many hugs,

❤️Katie

ronnie said...

Roz - Thanks. We should also thank our men and women serving today.

Jan - And always. Thanks.

Charlie - Thank you.

OBB - I've asked a few service men where they served. Thanks.

Hermione - I totlly agree with you. Thanks.

Rosie - It was my pleasure. We should never forget. Thanks.

Cat - Yes we should remember those that are serving now as well. Thanks.

MrJ - Thank you

Amy - I think it's a moving poem Thanks.

Katie - May we always remember the brave men and women who have sacrificed so much, and continue to do the same. Many hugs,

Love,
Ronnie
xx