Saturday, October 15, 2011

A moment in time/A timeless moment



Inscription on the Back of a Snapshot, 1915

Conditions are a little grim,
but what can one expect?
Our rations are…well, they are slim:
we use what we collect.
We get by on our wit and whim
but with all due respect,
in war it’s all just sink or swim.
May peace soon take effect. 

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Notes:  Sepia Saturday posted this snapshot of some World War I soldiers cooking a meal out of a helmet.  The field behind them is wasted and desolate.  When you look at this photo, you are almost glad it is in black and white, and not color - although the starkness, by virtue of the lack of hues, is probably more powerful in the end.

The form is Hymnal Octave.

 

9 comments:

  1. Perfect! I can't think of a poem that would suit this photo better.

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  2. It's amazing that they could even muster smile in the photo

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  3. Wonderful poem for this photo!

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  4. ...great poem...and sad that still here we are today hoping for peace to come...

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  5. you do amazing writing on special stuff, keep it up.

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  6. Words and image perfectly align. It is interesting that two of the men seem to be smiling. Indeed, may peace soon take effect!

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  7. The few simple lines seem to sum up the occasion - the tragedy and the survival of the human spirit - so well.

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