Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE UNFORGOTTEN HEROES, by JOHN LAWSON STODDARD Poet's Biography First Line: Hark! How the orient's bells are proclaiming Last Line: Something of sympathy, something of tears. Subject(s): Asia; Courage; Heroism; Memory; Far East; East Asia; Orient; Valor; Bravery; Heroes; Heroines | ||||||||
Hark! how the Orient's bells are proclaiming Obsequies strange to the shrines of the west -- Services Christendom's cruelties shaming -- Taught by the merciful, Buddha the blest. Peace on Manchuria's plains has descended; Tall waves the grass where the chivalrous bled; Murder and massacre finally ended, Sadly the living remember their dead. Requiem masses and prayers without number Plead for the souls of the Muscovite brave, While of the Japanese, wrapt in death's slumber, Tender memorials honor each grave. But in Gautama's compassionate teaching Love is not limited merely to man; Kindness to animals formed in his preaching No less a part of his merciful plan. Hence by the Buddhists, in counting the corses Heaping with horror the death-trampled plain, Not unremembered are thousands of horses, Left unattended to die with the slain. What did war seem to these poor, driven cattle? What was their part in the horrible fray Save to be shot in the fury of battle, Or from exhaustion to fall by the way? Dragging huge guns over rocks and through mire, Trembling with weakness, yet straining each nerve, Fated at last in despair to expire, Uncomprehending, yet willing to serve! Nothing to them were the hopes of a nation; "Czar" and "Mikado" were meaningless sounds; None of the patriot's deep inspiration Softened the agony caused by their wounds. Not for these martyrs the skill of physician, Ether for anguish or lint for a wound; Theirs but to lie in their crippled condition, Thirsting and starving on shelterless ground. Hail to these quadrupeds, dead without glory! Honor to him who their valor reveres! Spare to these heroes, unmentioned in story, Something of sympathy, something of tears. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE CONFESSION OF ST. JIM-RALPH by DENIS JOHNSON NOTES FOR AN ELEGY by WILLIAM MEREDITH THE EROTICS OF HISTORY by EAVAN BOLAND A SONG FOR HEROES by EDWIN MARKHAM AFTER THE BROKEN ARM by RON PADGETT PRELUDE; FOR GEOFFREY GORER by EDITH SITWELL EXAMINATION OF THE HERO IN A TIME OF WAR by WALLACE STEVENS A MAY MONODY by JOHN LAWSON STODDARD |
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