WWI poem appropriate for 9/11 heroes

Posted on Saturday, September 11, 2010 at 09:56 AM

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I woke up this morning and the Rouge Bouquet by Joyce Kilmer was in my head.

In a wood they call Rouge Bouquet
There is a new-made grave today,
Built by never a spade nor pick
Yet covered with earth 10 meters thick.
There lie many fighting men,
Dead in their youthful prime,
Never to laugh nor love again
Nor taste the Summertime.
For Death came flying through the air
And stopped his flight at the dugout stair,
Touched his prey and left them there,
Clay to clay.
He hid their bodies stealthily
In the soil of the land they fought to free
And fled away.
Now over the grave abrupt and clear
Three volleys ring;
And perhaps their brave young spirits hear
The bugles sing:
"Go to sleep!
Go to sleep!
Slumber well where the shell screamed and fell.
Let your rifles rest on the muddy floor,
You will not need them any more.
Danger's past;
Now at last,
Go to sleep!"

There is on earth no worthier grave
To hold the bodies of the brave
Than this place of pain and pride
Where they nobly fought and nobly died.
Never fear but in the skies
Saints and angels stand
Smiling with their holy eyes
On this new-come band.
St. Michael's sword darts through the air
and touches the aureole on his hair
As he sees them stand saluting there,
His stalwart sons:
And Patrick, Brigid, Columkill
Rejoice that in veins of warriors still
The Gael's blood runs.
And up to Heaven's doorway floats,
From the wood called Rouge Bouquet,
A delicate cloud of bugle notes
That softly say:
"Farewell!
Farewell!
Comrades true, born anew, peace to you!
Your souls shall be where the heroes are
And your memory shine like the morning-star.
Brave and dear,
Shield us here.
Farewell!"

Kilmer wrote those words in 1918 about the Irish/Irish-American men he served with in the Fighting 69th, but the poem seems very appropriate for today.

I don't know if there are poems about September 11 or not, but Kilmer's description seems apt for so many of those who died that day. Besides, for all I know some of those heroes from the fire & police departments and among the civilians were descended from men who fought with the Fighting 69th in the Great War.

{Photo of the burial at Rouge Bouquet from SixtyNinth-net.}

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TheYank | Sep 13, 2010, 07:47 AM EDT

murphy66, No, never heard that about Kilmer. In fact, I know very little about him. I think he converted to Catholicism before the war. I think. Would I be right in assuming he was raised in a family that had some money?

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Monsoonman | Sep 12, 2010, 11:27 PM EDT

Ah yes the Great War, the war to end all wars, WW1 of ?

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murphy66 | Sep 12, 2010, 06:32 PM EDT

Did you know that Kilmer's father invented Johnson & Johnson baby powder?

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ALyons3960 | Sep 12, 2010, 12:30 PM EDT

It's a beautiful poem, and it brought tears to my eyes. Rest in peace, dear souls.

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vincentruane | Sep 12, 2010, 01:58 AM EDT

What a beautiful poem. Thanks for reminding me of how brave, the brave really are. I have no doubt,St Michael will soon send you a special blessing, that is if he has not already. The Rosary is a special prayer with secret powers.

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manhattan | Sep 11, 2010, 12:55 PM EDT

Beautiful tribute. Thank you so much.

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