Watercolor, Jane Kohut-Bartels, 2014
My anti-war statement. Few people know or remember the battle of Gallipoli, fought in 1915. I honor the veterans of wars, and hope we will see someday the end of this particular blight on Humanity.
Lady Nyo
—
“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.
All 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, 2007-2016
Tags: Gallipoli, Humanity's blight., WWI
Lady Nyo's Weblog 
May 30, 2016 at 7:46 pm
Thank you Jane for sharing your post. Powerful!
Fabulous watercolor, my friend.
Connie
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May 30, 2016 at 10:53 pm
Thank you, Connie. That small painting was supposed to be the cover of “Pitcher of Moon”, but my formatter didn’t think it was ‘sharp’ enough….so he picked something else. Gary Hart’s photos….he’s a fabulous nature/landscape photog. I wanted to use this, but lost out.
And thank you, Connie, for reading and your comment. This political season is a nightmare to me. Don’t like nobody….except Sanders seems to be the only sane (and honest) candidate so far. he talks about ending war, and I am listening. MIght be a mirage, but I am still hopeful.
Hugs, Jane
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June 5, 2016 at 8:53 pm
Bernie may mean well it comes to curbing war but the drums are incessantly beating, the humans and dogs are howling for it.
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June 5, 2016 at 10:25 pm
Agreed.
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