10 Comments
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JEPHTHA's avatar

The counter of life against death... perfect here!

This is my introduction to, and the very first sample I've seen of your War Erasure series. I'm baffled and shocked, with this technique, that you could get so much, so many characters out of the original piece. Once again, fresh man! The addition of some of the history is nice too.

Andrea 🌄's avatar

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie,

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

John McCrae

Josh Datko's avatar

Yeah, :) I haven't yet done this one yet. But I plan to. The key line imho, is the "take up our quarrel with the foe" which transforms this into a beautiful image into a call to revenge. But it's such a famous poem, I need to approach it carefully.

Irving A. Lerch's avatar

Having spent my early years in Chicago hopscotching from foster home attics and basements to basements and attics, school to school, my war ended in 1948 in a reform school for truants. I was sprung at age 10 by my soon-to-be step-dad. By the time I entered high-school I was enrolled in shop courses with the hope of becoming employable. But my step-dad insisted I take ROTC to learn something about discipline. Fast-forward to West Point 1956-1960, kike, Jew boy, out of spite volunteering for combat, infantry, ranger, airborne, 101st Airborne Division. Surviving to age 25, I opt out to become an academic scientist. I loved my men, even my Jew-baiting classmates-now mostly dead. Don't ask how I feel about it all now.

Josh Datko's avatar

I won't :) Thanks for reading Irving!

Daniel V. Gaglio's avatar

I always appreciate when a modern band covers one of the old war songs. Like Drop Kick Murphy's cover of the Green Fields of France.

Elijah A. Colomer's avatar

Here's to all our returning countrymen finding again what is true. And to you, for surely having found yours.

Josh Datko's avatar

Yes, thank you!

Martin Garcia's avatar

Josh! Wow, more things to think about. I loved the song. At first I thought you get the lyrics wrong but then I got it...

I always passed military billboards around my side of town, going to and from school, to and from work. Enlisting was always something that was pushed. I almost did because it offered everything I could want - or so I thought: money, masculinity, brotherhood, promise of women etc. etc.

Scary. at least I think so.

The poet described here also took my imagination. Hardly do I think of pro war and poetry. I'm glad anti-war has a driver and it is very interesting to see the opposite.

So many thoughts. I'll leave it there.

Here's wishing you and your family a lovely holidays!

Josh Datko's avatar

I know. They make a good pitch. Martin, appreciate you dropping by like always -- and same to you and your family!