They do not know
Who have heard not the trumpets
They have not walked with Pickett's boys
In the Pennsylvania sun
Or lain with the Siberian Guard
In the snows before Moscow
They do not know
Who have heard not the trumpets
Though from thrones and parliaments
They bid fire and steel
Blaze forth between those
Who might else be brothers
They do know
Who have heard the trumpets before
And now in painful tearful pride
Bid sons and daughters
Follow the trumpets and come home changed
Or not at all
They do not know
They can not know, they will not know
Who have heard not the trumpets
And if you ask what they do not know
I must ask in turn
Have you heard the trumpets?
Submitted: September 13, 2006
© Copyright 2022 Mike Brennan. All rights reserved.
Comments
I liked it. good job
Fri, September 12th, 2008 1:57am
Author
Reply
Thank you. It was the first poem I'd written sinse high school.
Sat, October 4th, 2008 1:00am
i loved it until the last stanza :D
Mon, May 17th, 2010 1:00pm
:D Nice :D
Fri, June 3rd, 2011 1:36pm
Mike,
I am sure other military types will know just what you mean, in all of its particulars. You have done a good job of tapping into that almost indefinable sense that one gains from military experiences. It is, I think, unique to that sphere. And I believe your poem operates at a level that can touch those without such experience too. That is hard to accomplish. Thanks for your work!
As someone with family in the military, I was very touched by this poem. Thank you for sharing your words :)
Fri, October 19th, 2012 3:52pm
Author
Reply
You are most welcome. Please share my regards with you family member. You might also like another poem I wrote, using The Trumpets as a model; The Diapers.
Sat, November 10th, 2012 9:05am
Great job!:)
great way to honor servicemen
Sun, January 20th, 2013 7:26pm
Good writing. As said before it did get a little shaky near the end. Overall I enjoyed reading it and it had some beautiful metaphors.
If you have a second would you mind critiquing my new short story? I always return the favor.
http://www.booksie.com/thrillers/short_story/ririe/a-view-of-the-ocean-1st-draft
Really great style man.
I'm trying to develop my own style when it comes to writing so I wouldn't mind getting some feedback from someone like you on my first submission to this site. Thanks.
http://www.booksie.com/poetry/poetry/sammyboy/music-lover-%28tonueincheek%29
Beutiful I luv it!!!
Sun, February 10th, 2013 10:35pm
Author
Reply
Thank you.
Sat, October 26th, 2013 12:31pm
Very moving and despite it not being graphically descriptive it still paints all those horrific battles and blood shed in my mind.
Wed, February 27th, 2013 8:58pm
Hello, I visited your profile at (.booksie.com) and I find out that you're the type my heart love, I believe we suit for real love, let walk that precious thing out for heart desire, I hope and believe we match for good. When contacting reply to my mail address (helen_kalushi@hotmail.com)I am waiting for the love. I am, Miss helen
Tue, December 31st, 2013 2:24am
I wanted to find the writers on the last page of Booksie. I wanted to find the last person on the last page. I found you and the above piece. Awesome! I am a veteran, but I am not a combat veteran. I believe you must be one of the original posts. It is a powerful piece and reminds me of military poetry of days gone. Thank you my friend of the pen for awesome early Booksie piece.
Mon, November 16th, 2015 11:30am
Author
Reply
Thank you for your comment. I am indeed one of the first people on on Booksie, though I haven't visited it for a while.
Sat, November 3rd, 2018 3:51pm
Bravo. Excellent. Very meaningful. I've heard the trumpets in more than one way.
Sat, March 3rd, 2018 6:30pm
Author
Reply
thank you. This was a message that I felt could only be told through poetry, and in writing it I discovered that I liked poetry.
You might like a companion poem to this, "The Diapers".
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I like that a lot. One can debate the sentiment, but you have a pleasing mastery of words.
Mon, September 3rd, 2007 10:59pmAuthor
Reply
Thank you.
Fri, September 7th, 2007 11:17pm