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?
© Copyright 2018 Mike Brennan. All rights reserved.
Comments
I like that a lot. One can debate the sentiment, but you have a pleasing mastery of words.
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Thank you.
I liked it. good job
Author
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Thank you. It was the first poem I'd written sinse high school.
i loved it until the last stanza :D
:D Nice :D
Unknown
Great
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!
From a veteran--well done. And the final line says it all. Short, sweet, and very much to the point. Great job!!!
Author
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I am glad you like it. If you are also a parent, you might like The Diapers
As someone with family in the military, I was very touched by this poem. Thank you for sharing your words :)
Author
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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.
Great job!:)
great way to honor servicemen
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!!!
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Thank you.
Very moving and despite it not being graphically descriptive it still paints all those horrific battles and blood shed in my mind.
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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.
Bravo. Excellent. Very meaningful. I've heard the trumpets in more than one way.
Author
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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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