Daniel Wood, 2004
Gallipoli, 1915
“Are you joining up, mate?”
“Why? It’s the Brit’s war”.
“Cause Aussies are part of the empire, ‘one for all’…you know the drill”.
Both young men soon in the trenches, barely eight meters from the enemy.
“Hasim, leave off the plowing, we all go to fight the British.”
“My wheat will not be planted in time for the rains.”
“Forget the planting…leave the plowing to the women. If you don’t go, the infidels will take your fields… Once more our country will be invaded.”
Both young men crawled into their trenches, pushing past bodies bobbing like apples in gore.
The slaughter was horrific. New men replaced dying men. Then, within hours, they too were dead.
The trenches filled with blood, guts, madness – a stinking circle of Hell serving all faiths, welcoming all comers. Plenty of seating.
The Aussie mates and the Turkish farm boys didn’t last the night. Their bodies, shoved aside by a seemingly endless supply, sank in the mud.
These were the “Founding myths” of nations, claimed with pride by politicians who never saw the muck up close or personally.
***********
Beautiful Gallipoli.
Turkish soil and streams nourished by the mixed fruit of the dead.
Mothers, your children rest in the now gentle bosom of the land. They sleep as brothers. Your tears feed the oceans forever.
Jane Kohut-Bartels
Copyright, 2007, 2011
Tags: 1915, Gallipoli, Memorial Day, Oneshotpoetry.blogspot.com, Peace, Wars
Lady Nyo's Weblog 
May 31, 2011 at 2:55 pm
Certainly this shows that war is never won, and ultimately both sides end up the same. Nicely done, Jane. I hope you had a peaceful Memorial Day and were able to honor those who have been lost.
Roger and I make it a point to never attend a party on Memorial Day. It helps keep us focused to the day’s true meaning. One of my friends wrote, “6013 lost to these wars alone…that is the cost of your barbeque.”
Love you cuz!
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May 31, 2011 at 3:32 pm
Hey Margie!
What you write here is EXCELLENT! War is usually fought for land and revenge…and the dead and maimed keep piling up. I don’t support any of our wars, even though we have our only child in the Navy. Hopefully he will survive this, as so many other young don’t.
I am so sickened by the contant Israel/Palestine ‘conflict’….and the people who are pushing us into more and more war. There doesn’t seem to be any end to it.
Where will it point to next? I say a pox on all houses…We should keep our noses at home. It is not only our young that is fodder for these wars….
We built a chicken corral for my 10 hens yesterday (still unfinished….) so we could have some grass in the back yards…..good luck with that! But it was peaceful as we tried to concentrate on home projects and our thoughts on our son in the Navy…and all the other young men and women who went in the military because they couldn’t find jobs at home.
Your friend is right: “6013 lost to these wars alone…tht is the cost of your barbeque.” So many in this country….because they RENT their citizenship…..haven’t a clue.
Thank you, cuz, for reading and your insightful comment.
The older I get the more I think we need to withdraw from the world.
Love you,
Jane
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May 31, 2011 at 9:58 pm
you captured the horror of war so well with your words..esp…New men replaced dying men. Then, within hours, they too were dead…shows the madness and contempt for human being in these wars so placative
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May 31, 2011 at 10:52 pm
Simply put – and very powerful
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May 31, 2011 at 10:54 pm
Hey Marousia!
I have missed you. So glad you are here.
And thank you for reading and your comment, sweetie!
Hugs,
Lady Nyo
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May 31, 2011 at 10:56 pm
Hi Claudia!
War….it is ever thus….however, this Gallipoli seemed to be…like any war, but especially the wars around WWI, to be especially horrific.
Thank you, Claudia for reading and your comment.
Lady Nyo
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May 31, 2011 at 11:02 pm
yeah lot of truth in those last lines…those that start and send the boys off to war know little of the humanity (which you engender nicely in them) that they tread upon…well writ…
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June 1, 2011 at 12:06 am
speaks strongly of any war doesnt it?
the tears of mothers continue to flow “your tears feed the oceans forever”
Thanks Jane for your passion
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June 1, 2011 at 12:29 am
Lovely, though war heartbreaking….
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June 1, 2011 at 3:22 am
Hi ayala…
yes, heartbreaking…for all sides….
Thank you, sweetie, for reading and your comment.
Lady Nyo
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June 1, 2011 at 3:23 am
Hi Moonie…
yep….all war….is only manufactured death. For all sides.
Thank you, sweetie…
Peace.
Jane
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June 1, 2011 at 3:24 am
Hi Brian….
The older I get the more that war seems pointless…all war.
Thank you, Brian…..
Lady Nyo
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June 1, 2011 at 1:48 pm
Yep pointless for sure
Is everything to do with war
Whoops I forgot about greed
Which is the main reason war is still in need
At least for those higher ups
Who get to sit in cushy chairs and drink from their expensive cups
Screw them I say
Nice write here today
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June 1, 2011 at 2:18 pm
LOL! Thank you, Patt.
Nice write yourself.
Lady Nyo
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June 1, 2011 at 4:07 pm
The military machine manufactures the product using the flowers of youth to power their greed and lust. The “leader” hide behind the front and now behind computers and big screen tvs while they incite passion in the young and innocent. Always the lure of adventure enticing the young who only find the killing fields and horror. Well done, here; but leaves one sad, helpless.
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June 1, 2011 at 4:21 pm
Hi Gay,
Agreed, sad and helpless. As a mother of a 23 year old only child…who joined the Navy because after college there were no jobs….I feel both. And I can only pray that this innocent child, will survive the next few years.
Thanks, Gay.
Jane
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June 1, 2011 at 8:04 pm
I was talking to a friend a few days ago about war poetry. He wanted to know why there are soooooo many war poems. I told him that without those poems, we forget. Thank you for reminding us.
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June 1, 2011 at 8:17 pm
Agreed, Randall. We need reminding. With television, we are so distanced from it all.
Thank you for reading and leaving this insightful comment.
Lady Nyo
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June 2, 2011 at 1:12 am
As another great writer wrote, “war, what is good for?” Seriously, a poignant write regarding the senselessness of it all…youth losing life and limb for those that sign on the dotted line, but never serve their time…money, money, money..one way or another, that is what kills us all.
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June 2, 2011 at 1:33 pm
Oh! I remember that song! Great song!
You said it, Libraryscene. “those that never serve their time”…..
Thank you for reading and sending this insightful comment!
Lady Nyo
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June 4, 2011 at 1:38 am
The glorification of war – a massive deception – many of the old Aussie diggers have attested to that – no point, no point at all. Founding myths, indeed. Well written, Lady Nyo
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June 4, 2011 at 1:14 pm
Hey Bluebee…
You are so right: a massive deception. This went through a couple of rewrites, but it wasn’t easy piece to write….
Thank you, Bluebee, always…for reading and for your insightful comments.
Lady Nyo
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June 8, 2011 at 11:05 am
Your words bring back to me and amplify my own reflections on war. As I ponder these things, I begin to believe that mankind is not capable to stop this bloody nonsense.
It would take a God…
And it will.
(I’ve missed being here Jane)
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