Defiance Of Meaning. Poem by guy lipmore

Defiance Of Meaning.

Rating: 4.5


The fighting has died off once again,
They slump amid the mud
Wondering if their 'war effort' will be in vain,
Whilst staring at a recent victim's face covered in blood.

Witnessing comrades fall and die,
Some must of asked why?
In these fields of death, If there is any room for love and care?
Now that the festive season is kind of in the air.

Then the 'Jerries' started to erect Christmas trees and many a lantern light,
Then started singing 'Silent Night'.
To the 'Tommies' it was a pleasant sound and different sight,
Even more so on that smoke filled night.
They respond likewise,
With Christmas carols that fill the skies.

Before long, batches of each entrenched side would be singing along,
Together in the next 'chosen' song.
One side would sing and the other would be cheering and clapping,
There seemed no stopping.

Shouts of 'friendship' ring out from from both opposing lines,
Each side making 'come over' signs.
Slowly but surely, men from both each side emerge from their part of each trench,
Out from their corridors of hell, from the blood and mud filled stench.

Uneasily men with different shades of uniforms walk towards 'no man's land',
Both sides reaching out to hug and shake the nearest 'foes' hand.
Hugging and exchanging of cigarettes, chocolate, pictures, stories, jokes and seasonal cheer,
The thought of getting killed by one another is was no longer a fear.
A game of football breaks out, only 'opposing' teams,
No one died, no blown to smithereens!

Only a few hours before, they were trying to wipe out each other,
But now it was love thy brother.
It seemed like a dream, it didn't make sense.
Mortal enemies, with no need for defence.

However like most good things it come to an end,
The enemy friend is no longer a friend.
Cannon fire ends their game of football,
Both sides obey own high command call.
Every one scrambles their respective ways across the crater filled pitch,
Returning to their 'normal days' back to a watery ditch.

So back to shooting the heads off short-lived friends,
Until the next night descends.

The politicians and generals said, 'There's no room for good will in the carnage of war, '
Some one on that front line must of felt, why the hell not for?

If ever in history of mankind, there was a much needed pause,
It must have been needed in the 'great war', the so called war to 'end all wars'!
That unusual pause in that senseless cause,
Must be remembered by us all.
Now and for ever, and the next time we have to answer our country's call.
But especially by the 'war hawks, '
To remind them that there is some times 'room' for talks.

That interval of 'unofficial peace' showed past, present and future generations can be understood,
without the spilling of his blood!

DEC' 1984

POET'S NOTES ABOUT THE POEM
Unfficial truce that took place on Christmas day (1914) during the first world war between British and German army units, the poem was inspired by Paul McCartney's song 'Pipes of Peace'
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