Forgotten Soldier
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U.S. Copywrite TX 6-582-035
For all the young men
whose gallant end
in youth they have departed;
Remember them,
their heart commend,
their souls untouched by fear.
From battlefields
their cries were heard
in shock and desperation;
Crosses stand,
no child at hand,
no memories left to hear.
Author notes
This poem was written in memory of Adam Whisenant, a young Confederate Soldier who was a relative of mine that died at Richmond Virginia's Chimborazo Hospital during the Civil War. It is dedicated to all such soldiers. The photo is of another Confederate soldier found in my family's archives; there are no pictures of Adam that I know of.
http://www.nps.gov/archive/rich/ri_hosp.htm
A contest entry
- Poems on the Civil War by ourgirlFriday.
600 points, ended April 24, 2008, 9 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 41 of 41
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what a beautiful dedication to all soldiers, past and present,yes I did enjoy, it's a lesson in pas history
and I do enjoy reading...thank you for sharing
Linda
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I love the idea of this poem, and it's so cool that you know of your family's past. I really liked reading it. Thanks for sharing!
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Lovely Image. The antique frame and everything makes the writing come alive. I notice you have a collection of civil war poetry. Is that exclusively your own? I have a nice piece about the signing at Appamattox if you'd like to see it. Thank you for entering
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I don't have a collection of Civil War Poetry all my own, but you might be looking at the link to another contest that I entered in the past. The frame surrounding the photo is entirely made of copper/brass, thus the green tarnishing, the portrait is on glass and the frame contains a place to put a candle behind the picture to illuminate the image of the young soldier. I would love to read your poem on Appamattox sometime.
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This is a moving tribute to those who served and died way too soon. Their memories are so important to keep alive as you have done here in this write. Nice tribute! Thanks for entering my contest. Blessings, Patty
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WOW!!! Great job here wonderful dedication.
Thank you for entering my contest
Delila
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Very nice poem. I live very close to the site of the Chimborazo Hospital and have visited it.
When I visited Vicksburg in my youth I had the most interesting experience . . . memories, flashbacks, a deep seated feeling of remembrance. I walked around in a hypnotic state-- parents thought I was just being quiet and introverted. It wasn't until much later that I put the pieces together . . . reincarnation. Had been there or a place similar to it. Was told I died toward the end of the war for the Southern lost cause.
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This is very sad, so many soldiers died going through the motions. Their families heavy on their minds. The civil war was a very traumatic war fo so many people. Excellent poem I did my geneology before i had many relatives in the civil war. Visiting the battlefields is a very humbling experience Good luck in the contest
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Wonderful
Short, to the point...So much said in so few words. You've done well. It reminds me of a poem called "Jubal Went A'marchin'"-very moving. Good luck in the contest!
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very sad.
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this made me go. "aww" Probably not the reaction your looking for. But its a great write!
Good luck in the contest
-Raging Chaos -
Excellent...
particularly enjoyed the rhyme scheme. But it is the emotion that makes this memorable..and a keeper. Bravo!!
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very sad and true. well done solider. very moving and touching poetry.
"
From battlefields
their cries were heard
in shock and desperation;
Crosses stand,
no child at hand,
no memories left to hear."
Creatress -
A wonderful tribute,has anything really changed since those far off days? sadly I fear not,there always seems to be a new generation of young men herded into the slaughter.
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Nowadays they're not so much herded as they are conned. At least in the War Between The States, right or wrong, they were indeed fighting for the survival of their Country. People have forgotten the horrible cost of the Civil War, more Americans soldiers were killed in the Civil War than World War II. In fact there were days when there were almost as many American soldiers killed in the Civil War as there have been in the entire Iraq War (3,960) since the day we got there till now. The bloodiest day in American History was September 17, 1862 at Antietam (Sharpsburg): killed: 2,108 Union; 1,546 Confederate: total killed 3,654 from sun up to sun down (12 hour period)...horrible, pictures of the battlefield show puddles in the road, but it hadn't rained, it was blood. The casualty count when you include all the wounded was 23,000. Nowadays we're back into being a police army like in Viet Nam. Sodamn Insane flooded the market with oil to get what money he could, that kept the prices down hurting the big oil companies and some their Arab friends, now with Iraq under their control, oil prices are through the roof, and oil companies and their dumb friends like Bush and Cheney are even richer. (Adam's older brothers my G-G-G Granddad included were at Sharpsburg)
http://www.nps.gov/archive/anti/gallery.htm
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Tony - this is powerful and heart-wrentching! You have captured the isolation of the individual soldier . . . the faceless evil of war is tossed aside here and you bring to the forefront what we all should not forget - our boys go off to fight in wars when they've seen too few winters . . .
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From battlefields
their cries were heard
in shock and desperation;
Crosses stand,
no child at hand,
no memories left to hear.
no memories left to hear
i love it... and though m living war everyday in my beloved country but yes i would sacrifice my life for my country's cause... no matter the cost...
and to me every soldier is a saint.... a holy man.... a GOOD man and a man of GOOD...
PEACE
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thank you for sharing this with us and for the entry into my contest. i wish you all the best. tha family history is a great additive to your notes
cheers
Jen
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This is why I don't believe that war is under any circusmstance justifiable... it's sad and we only commend them because it's the most that can be done... but isn't it a little too late? sigh~ thank you for this piece
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nicely done and a wonderful write!!!!!!!!!!!
soilders always deserve the utmost respect for what they went though and it was wonderful to read his dedication you have written wonderfully......
thank you for entering into my contest!!!! -
I remember the war
This poem reminds me of a book I read on this war between South and North...so many died, even newly arrived immigrants never to see freedom, it was a war
that split the souls of many...as this lost soldier you picture in your poem...many young men lost ..war between brothers ...even 50,000 Canadians participated in this war on both sides ...
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Hello again Tony
This turned up again on the featured list and I went in a second time by mistake but I am pleased because this holds up so well after a distance and after re-reading. It is so unsentimental - many "war" poems are either political (mine!!!) or sweetly gooey (not mine). The latter defeat their own object except in the eyes of the sweet and gooey. Thanks again for your words of truth. -
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Thanks Quantum,
I think it is one of my best!
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Excellent write
A Very compelling piece! Being somewhat of a Civil War Buff your piece intrigued me. It flows with grace and your point comes across quite well. You give your relative a great honor by remembering him this way. It was a hard war that pitted brother against brother and American against American.I am sure that Adam Whisenant Looks down at you right now and smiles. I have a contest running now that has some Civil war pics in it. Please if you feel you would like to enter stop by. http://allpoetry.com/contest/2370030 Best of Luck to you, and thank you for sharing...LC
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Thank You, LC
Adam Whisenant was a private in Company H of 24th Georgia Infantry, which was attached to the Army of Northern Virginia, he died June 23, 1862 in the Service of the Confederate States Army, at the Chimborazo Hospital, in Richmond, Virginia. He was born circa 1842 in Habersham County, Georgia, the son of Peter E. & Mary Ann Whisenant, he can be found on the 1850 & 1860 federal census for Habersham County, Georgia; there has not been any record found of him having a wife or children of his own, thus the last two lines of my poem: "no child at hand, no memories left to hear."
See: http://24thgeorgiacoh.com/history.htm
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Interesting
I am from Richmond Virginia also And I am familiar with
Chimborazo Park. Thanks for the comment on my poem!
"BOO"
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A good tribute. Short and to the point. If any criticism is to be had it is that it is too short, I would have liked there to be a little more content.
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A touching piece that stands for now as well as then. A technical point - "who's" is incorrect (it means "who is" - the pronoun is "whose". The words make no sense as they stand unless the reader substitutes the pronoun.
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Thanx Quantum,
I hate English almost as much as I luv it ¦:¬{
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Really nice
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excellent write
Never forget those who fought in any of our wars. The funny thing is there is a great history book called the forgotten Soldier... By Guy Sajur
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good one, a fine tribute
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Wow,this is just so powerful and true,you may like to read my poems Real American Soldier ,Our American Flag and The United States Of America,Awesome,Hazel
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Cool
It is a great tribute to a family member who served this country believing in his heart that his fight was right. I believe that is what all our soldiers do. Great tribute, thanks for sharing. Melody
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good one
Hey this is a very nice tribute to a relative of yours. When I read this poem I think of all the soldiers that died when the stroke of a pen could have solved the impass - you have written a great piece here - nice flow and message - "The pen is mightier than the sword --- Bless God - Joe
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This is a great dedication to a relative. It's good to see that you keep him in your memory.The words you chose are very powerful and add an emotional depth to the poem.
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This is excelent.
My first impression is this is a very good memorial to this soldier. Emotionally this can also apply to any and all soldiers. This is a well written poem and as such does not need to be changedin any way, for it is not awkward. All of it is my favorite. The title is perfect,and the first line starts this off in the best possible way. The last line sums this up perfectly. I realy liked it.
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You definitely have talent...
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Superb, memorable
Wow. Very well written indeed. A very nice memorial.
If your interested, there is a poem on my profile page entitled: "Immortality", by Francesca Falk Miller, also a memorial to those who have died in war.
Here's the link: http://allpoetry.com/clovis67906curious -
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Thank You, Clovis
I read Francesca's poem on your site, and it was indeed a fantastic piece of work. -
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You are quite welcome, and I'm pleased that you liked "Immortality".
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