Monday 11 November 2013

Lest we forget



For The Fallen

With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,
England mourns for her dead across the sea.
Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,
Fallen in the cause of the free.

Solemn the drums thrill; Death august and royal
Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres,
There is music in the midst of desolation
And a glory that shines upon our tears.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted;
They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

They mingle not with their laughing comrades again;
They sit no more at familiar tables of home;
They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;
They sleep beyond England's foam.

But where our desires are and our hopes profound,
Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,
To the innermost heart of their own land they are known
As the stars are known to the Night;

As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust,
Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain;
As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness,
To the end, to the end, they remain.


Robert Laurence Binyon





10 comments:

  1. I think this day is even more deeply felt in England than in the US. One reason could be the way units were formed in England - I understand some villages lost most of their male population due to the wars Warmest regards on this solemn day, Dean

    ReplyDelete
  2. Raising a glass today to honour those lost, both past and present.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Fine post, Michael. We will remember them always.

    ReplyDelete
  4. thank you guys for your sacrifice.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Today is always a poignant one. A day to remember those family members who served their country with honour. Both Michael's family and I share a link with the 2nd Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers and the Battle of Spion Kop on 24th January 1900. My great grandfather Cpl John Henry Lynch survived a serious wound, one of his Officers - Lt Awdry - paid the ultimate sacrifice.

    http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Lancashire/BuryLancashireFusiliersBoer.html

    We will remember them.

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...