Poem 17d: Only the dead have seen the end of war

25 Replies

17dsoldier

(January 2016 was my month for writing Pantoums. This is the fourth and last one for the month).

Only the dead have seen the end of war:
Plato said this back in Grecian days.
Not all the brave know what they’re fighting for;
If they knew they’d weigh the cause to stay.

Plato said this back in Grecian days:
Courage is knowing what not to fear.
If they knew they’d weigh the cause to stay;
A soldier’s in the Front because he’s there.

Courage is knowing what not to fear.
Plan B says turn around and run.
A soldier’s in the Front because he’s there;
Turn round and run and get shrapnel in your bum.

Plan B says turn around and run.
The world will brand you as a cream puff.
Turn round and run and get shrapnel in your bum;
Be pooh-poohed by those who never give a stuff.

The world will brand you as a cream puff.
Not all the brave know what they’re fighting for;
Be pooh-poohed by those who never give a stuff.
Only the dead have seen the end of war.

To hear the poem read aloud click HERE.

25 thoughts on “Poem 17d: Only the dead have seen the end of war”

  1. thecontentedcrafter

    I quite like your pantoums – I am impressed with how they work out. I tried one myself just to see what I could do when you first put one up and remember feeling almost impressed with it too – but now I can’t find it any more………..

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply ↓
  6. Cynthia Jobin

    I think your experiment with the pantoum has been successful, don’t you?You’ve approached it in several different ways, and certainly with different subjects. I don’t take easily to it, but I imagine that occasionally there might be just the perfect idea to accommodate itself to this form….Tonight’s a full moon…maybe I’ll try a pantoum to the goddess of Mount Cynthus. Anyway, congratulations on all four of yours!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓
    1. Bruce Goodman Post author

      Thank you Cynthia. Every form – I’ve just discovered this – is a learning experience as to what the form itself is! I wouldn’t be too keen – whoooooooo whooooo whooooooa – to worry about the full moon. You have many wondrous things up your sleeve. “Waste” time (Birthday Girl) only on what is fruitful – pantoum or not. And thanks again for your lovely comment about my 4 pantoums. I learned a lot doing them!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply ↓
    1. Bruce Goodman Post author

      Thank you, Derrick. I was only telling Aristotle a similar thing just the other day: “You listen to Plato,” I said to Aristotle, “because sometimes he’s right – but not always, like when it comes to the quiddities of material things…”

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply ↓

Please feel free to spout, tout, flout, sprout, pout, or simply say something sensible