How strange to be in Europe now
with Europe split across its seams,
to fight a foe I do not know,
to aid a foe I see in dreams.
In Sligo’s hills where we would play
young Jimmy molders in his sleep
in holy ground where heroes lay,
where mother and his sisters weep.
How strange for me in battle gear
to fight a war that is not mine
when all I love and I hold dear
in Sligo’s hills I left behind.
America is my home now;
she called me and I did advance
to fight her war on foreign shores
in ruined towns and fields of France.
Author notes
William O'Connor age 16, fled Ireland with a price on his head. A friend was killed by British soldiers. In 1918, he went to France with the American Expeditionary force. In WWII, he would return to Europe with American forces again. This poem is modeled on WB Yeats' "An Irish Airman Foresees His Death".
A contest entry
- G...est pour la Guerre! by DogFish.
1000 points, ended November 14, 2008, 6 entries
Gold trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
1 - 6 of 6
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awesome...you've captured the essence of war brilliantly here...the rights and wrongs get very blurry. A very enjoyable read.
Rory
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I'm glad you liked the poem. It's a true story.
Mac
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Thank you very much for the context laid out in your note: that more than doubled the weight of an already excellent poem. You've cone nothing to deminish Yeats' poem hear!
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Thank you for your comments and the contest.
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You've shown many wars in this short verse, and how strange they are. A lovely poem; for me the strongest lines are : to fight a foe I do not know,
to aid a foe I see in dreams.
as it allows me to see the conflict of a man fighting for the country that killed his friend.
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Thanks Mercedes - Yeats' line was: "Those I fight, I do not hate; those I guard, I do not love."
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