WE WILL REMEMBER THEM

Over 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 may not be able to gather
     but today we remember 
          and are grateful
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 
Someone's 
     wife
          mother
               daughter
                    sister
                         fiancée
every one
     courageous 
          brave, heroic
               and dearly loved.

Tears stained 
    the faces
         of those 
              who loved them
but never saw them again
     after waving them off
          and never even
               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.

Today we will 
    remember and
         honour them
with love
    sadness   
         respect and
              gratitude.

Over a 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 11/11/20