Patriotism
These truly capture the complexities of war and grief.
For plenty of people, Memorial Day means a three-day weekend and awesome cookouts. Of course it's wonderful to spend the day enjoying the company of your friends and family, but it's also crucial to take a moment and reflect on the somber history behind this occasion as well. Reading a few Memorial Day poems will help you appreciate the soldiers who have given their all defending while the safety of their country.
Originating in the years following the American Civil War, Memorial Day is an official federal holiday that honors those who died while serving in the United States military, as explained by History.com. It's common to observe the day with visits to cemeteries or memorial sites. This holiday, now observed annually on the last Monday in May, is also used to attend special services and parades honoring the US military.
So in honor of those who lost their lives in the service of their country, take a moment to read over these poems, and maybe even share a few lines on your social media accounts. These meditations on the horrors of war, the unimaginable bravery of soldiers, and the desire for a more peaceful world are sure to hit home. Spend some time with these words as you reflect on your own friends, family, and freedom.
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"Shiloh: A Requiem" by Herman Melville
Best known as the author of Moby-Dick, Melville was also a talented poet. This work is a meditation on a major battle from the Civil War.
Skimming lightly, wheeling still,
The swallows fly low
Over the field in clouded days,
The forest-field of Shiloh—
Over the field where April rain
Solaced the parched ones stretched in pain
through the pause of night
That followed the Sunday fight
Around the church of Shiloh—
The church so lone, the log-built one,
That echoed to many a parting groan
And natural prayer
Of dying foemen mingled there—
Foemen at morn, but friends at eve—
Fame or country least their care:
(What like a bullet can undeceive!)
But now they lie low,
While over them the swallows skim,
And all is hushed at Shiloh.
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"The Battle Autumn of 1862" by John Greenleaf Whittier
A Quaker and abolitionist, Whittier is known for his poetry inspired by the Civil War. This poem recounts a particularly deadly day of combat.
The flags of war like storm-birds fly,
The charging trumpets blow;
Yet rolls no thunder in the sky,
No earthquake strives below.
And, calm and patient, Nature keeps
Her ancient promise well,
Though o’er her bloom and greenness sweeps
The battle’s breath of hell.
And still she walks in golden hours
Through harvest-happy farms,
And still she wears her fruits and flowers
Like jewels on her arms.
What mean the gladness of the plain,
This joy of eve and morn,
The mirth that shakes the beard of grain
And yellow locks of corn?
Ah! eyes may well be full of tears,
And hearts with hate are hot;
But even-paced come round the years,
And Nature changes not.
She meets with smiles our bitter grief,
With songs our groans of pain;
She mocks with tint of flower and leaf
The war-field’s crimson stain.
Still, in the cannon’s pause, we hear
Her sweet thanksgiving-psalm;
Too near to God for doubt or fear,
She shares the eternal calm.
She knows the seed lies safe below
The fires that blast and burn;
For all the tears of blood we sow
She waits the rich return.
She sees with clearer eye than ours
The good of suffering born,—
The hearts that blossom like her flowers,
And ripen like her corn.
Oh, give to us, in times like these,
The vision of her eyes;
And make her fields and fruited trees
Our golden prophecies!
Oh, give to us her finer ear!
Above this stormy din,
We too would hear the bells of cheer
Ring peace and freedom in.
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"Peace" by Gerard Manley Hopkins
A poet and priest, Hopkins wrote about everything from nature to the human condition. This quiet meditation on peace is especially fitting for Memorial Day.
When will you ever, Peace, wild wooddove, shy wings shut,
Your round me roaming end, and under be my boughs?
When, when, Peace, will you, Peace? I’ll not play hypocrite
To own my heart: I yield you do come sometimes; but
That piecemeal peace is poor peace. What pure peace allows
Alarms of wars, the daunting wars, the death of it?
O surely, reaving Peace, my Lord should leave in lieu
Some good! And so he does leave Patience exquisite,
That plumes to Peace thereafter. And when Peace here does house
He comes with work to do, he does not come to coo,
He comes to brood and sit.
Memorial Day is a nice kickoff to summer and a great three-day weekend, but never forget the true sacrifices made so we can enjoy this time. Read a few of these poems to bring some of that patriotism to your celebrations.
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