WE WILL REMEMBER THEM

On this very day
    one hundred years ago
         at 11 am on the 11th day
              of the 11th month
bells rang out
    to signal
         the end of war.

We remember and are thankful
    to all those whose faces
         and names
              are unknown to us
                   but who were killed
or were left
    bruised
         crushed and
              bleeding
at the bottom
    of a muddy trench
         with the stench
of death
    all around -
What a waste
    of lives.

Someone's
    husband
         father
              son
                   brother
                        fiancé
courageous
    brave and heroic.

Tears rolled
    down the faces
         of those
              who loved them
but never saw them again
    and never had
         the chance
              to say a last “Goodbye”.

The freedom
    they fought for
         is real
              not abstract
freedom from fear
    injustice and
         bigotry
freedom
    to choose
         to act and
              to speak out.

We will
    remember and
         honour them
with love
    sadness  
         respect and
              gratitude

One hundred years on
    the same questions
         are on our lips
              “Was it all worth it - and
have we learned anything
    from the mistakes
         of the past?”

© Maureen Iles 10/11/2016
Amended 11/11/18