Flank to flank they lie none the older
no memory for those felled here
It was certain that hell had flamed over
that brothers had shackled their fear
“We’ll not beg for mercy or quarter
We’ll compromise all we hold dear
We’ll go though we’re husbands and fathers
with eyes that relinquish no tear”
By brawn of their backs and their druther
And resolve to die by the here
“We’ll die by the now — no surrender!”
and charged they as Reaper drew near
Through lopsided slaughter they bore it
thirst quenched but by sweat from their brow
For they twelve in unison swore it
to die by the here and the now
By Almighty God and with honor,
geo sends
Not sure if I see waste, sadness, loss – or honor, loyalty, and bravery. It strikes me both ways. Very conflicting emotionally.
Same ,
I see it both ways, but my bottom line is it depends on if you are on the side of the 12 or on the side of the Reaper…
Great point of view, homanj1
geo
Mason,
I quoted a few lines to George’s piece… but seeing that you and others are conflicted, I’m posting up the entire quotation by Jerry Pournelle.
“…To stand on the firing parapet and expose yourself to danger; to stand and fight a thousand miles from home when you’re all alone and outnumbered and probably beaten; to spit on your hands and lower the pike; to stand fast over the body of Leonidas the King; to be rear guard at Kunu-Ri; to stand and be still to the Birkenhead Drill; these are not rational acts. They are often merely necessary…”
-YP-
That’s thing YP – they stood, because it needed to be done. Was it a waste, will it be forgotten, did it really matter? Even taking all those things into consideration, a part of me reveres them. I fear that means I am entranced with death, or hopelessness? Not sure, fought a fight like that once for my daughter. Gave everything, in the end it didn’t matter – and yet, I can only be envious of their sacrifice. I admire those who will stand, against egregious odds, in a cause of righteousness (or so they may believe), even if the… Read more »
Mason, The surviving Spartans who stood over the body of Leonidas, their king. Had they yielded up his body, they would have been allowed to leave. Their cultural upbringing and their soldiers’ honor forbade it. Had the Persians taken Leonidas’ body in such a manner and allowed the survivors to leave… the damage would have been hard to calculate. The whole point of the Spartans not only being the rear guard to the larger Greek force heading back to Corinth…but dying to the last man… was to demonstrate to those Greek city states that had not “Meadized” that the Spartans… Read more »
Thank you. You are correct, if they had not stood, history would have changed.
the search for humans who willfully toil for benefits they cannot reap. It’s an extreme of charity… but I just can’t word it. geo
“…could not be defeated… merely killed.” Ah, yes; there is a difference, isn’t there, YP?
Magnificent, YP.
geo
I feel you Mason. As honourable as it is ,I wonder if live to fight another day a better choice . The spirit and life force of the King left his body and they are sacrificing for a container not the king.
While I have respect for the resolve and honour I am conflicted
Clluelo, All through Western European/American history, right up to the end of the 19th Century men in Western armies have died to keep “The Colors” (National and regimental flags) in their hands. Many Civil War battles… one color bearer after another shot down and another took his place. Men who were of no mind to perish in “Advancing the Colors…” often became the first to risk their lives when the Colors in danger of falling into enemy hands. A disgrace to allow the Colors to fall into enemy hands…excusable only by there being no survivors. In extremis, Colors should be… Read more »
Outstanding, YP.
so then the of power of symbolism, yes?
George,
“A soldier will fight long and hard for a bit of colored ribbon.”
-Napoleon Bonaparte-
Well, true in his time. In our time it is only the immature and the self-aggrandizing who stick their neck out recklessly for such. Seasoned veterans are a bit more “parsimonious” with their life and limbs…
-YP-
I consider it to be a quality in a person that is the most diametrically opposed to vanity as possible. I strongly suggest that vanity is the root of most evil. People wouldn’t do most of the bad things they do if they didn’t have the option to brag about them. Even small things like shoplifting and breaking simple traffic law; it’s vanity, people thinking they are better than the rest of us and the laws don’t apply to them because they are them, wonderful marvelous them. Vanity.
geo sends
Spot on, Geo.
Cheers, Top Shiela!
geo
RGR thx, YP.
geo
Wonderful, YP. Thank you.
Damned-near perfection, YP.
geo
You saw it all as intended, Mase
geo
Good to know. I still ponder on it.
George,
“…to stand fast over the body of Leonidas the King; to be rear guard at Kunu-Ri; these are not rational acts. They are often merely necessary…” -Jerry Pournelle-
-Yankee Papa-
Rear_Guard_at_Kunu-Ri.gif Sorry my graphic didn’t paste. 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion fighting in a rear guard action.
geo sends
George,
My Christmas wish list re Freq. See who has liked replies… ability to easily post photos. Also… for some reason, 80% of Freq postings go to my junk file. I keep labeling “not junk” which transfers to “in box”… but next time same thing from same source keeps happening.
I know just enough about computers not to put White-Out on the screen. Fellow who knows more than I do says something at Freq end apparently triggering since everything from every other source when marked “not junk” stops appearing in junk file.
-YP-
Yes, yes, yes, YP! See who has liked replies and ability to post photos. Also, I used to an email when someone “liked” my comment but I don’t anymore. I’m not sure that I always get an email when someone replies to one of my comments either.
Top Shelf Shiela,
how do we elect to get emails when comments are answered?
geo
Geo, log into your WordPress account and adjust your notifications. I have emailed you a screenshot. Hope it helps. Just be aware I am not what one would call a tech genius 🙂
X-ring, YP… both of those things I would also hope for the Freq. White-Out probably explains why I only have about 3% of my viewing area of my screen left; I am constantly scrolling my X and Y axises to try and read — thanks for that!
geo sends
Wow, geo, that is one hell of a gut-wrenching poem that reflects the reality of what only some can truly articulate to others. I feel so many feelings that like a sap of a woman I just want to cry.
Powerful Geo. Any context to the picture? I’m guessing WWI.
Believe it or not that is American plains tribesmen; Crow Indians killed and scalped by Oglala Lakota (Sioux).
geo
George,
For those who know little about the wars between Indian tribes on the Plains I suggest, “Changing Military Patterns of the Great Plains Indians” by Frank Raymond Secoy. (University of Nebraska Press 1953, republished 1992)
-YP-
Thank you for the recommendation. Not surprisingly, my local library doesn’t have it. Darn.
Susan,
Amazon.com (U.S.) has used copy for $ 3.95.
-YP-
Thanks, YP!
YP, have come across a lot of hostility between Native American tribes in my studies. The popular stereotype of the peace loving, in harmony with nature communities is quite skewed compared to the reality. Savage battles, where entire tribes where almost decimated as the males where killed and the children/women were abducted.
Mason,
After the battle of the Little Big Horn the Sioux “bomb-shelled” to avoid being a mass target for the Army. One of the larger groups attacked another tribe’s village a couple of days to the West. Even at the peak of their struggle for survival against white expansion… they couldn’t let go of warring on other tribes.
-YP-
Choice book! When I think of all the reverence and pity held for the peaceful ways and wisdom of the plains tribes… all of that flies out the window when you read about the waring lives of the tribes; they had been slaughtering each other long before whitey showed up. As for all the pity, I respect the people as any others people, but I also understand war. When you fight and lose a war you are subject to subjugation, and every bit of their treatment should have been expected. Hitler as a matter of fact had tremendous plans to… Read more »
George,
The Sioux were indeed robbed of the Black Hills by a cynical U.S. government. It should be remembered that a couple of generations before, the Sioux acquired their “sacred” Black Hills by driving other tribes out…leaving a great many members of those tribes dead.
As historian General S.L.A. Marshall noted… “For all the many injustices and wrongs done to the Plains Indians… no one can accuse the Americans of making the Sioux warlike…”
Respect,
-YP-
Very true, YP. Thank you. Love the quote from General Marshall.
YP,
I certainly don’t dispute the sting of the loss of the Black Hills to Tashunka Witko, Oglala Lakota (Sioux) tribal chief Crazy Horse. American Indian Movement (AIM) activist Russell Means was from the Crazy Horse clan and wrote the book “Where White Men Fear to Tread,” which I read many years back. As is the fate of many a book, he started out great and he lost it in the end.
I greatly appreciate your comments.
geo sends
Awesome. Thanks, Geo.
Wow. Very powerful, Geo. Thank you.
You’re welcome, Top Shiela
geo
.
Cheers and beers back to you, my friend.
Enough words to give power to the imagination. Few enough to keep it from being diluted. Quite a picture…!
Wow, thanks so much, Ms. Susan B!
😊
Wow!! That moved my emotions all around the room. Very Good, Geo.
My sincere appreciation, rynosbucket!
geo sends
I realized I hadn’t commented on this yet. Very powerful.