Harry Patch : A Tribute

Please feel free to add your comments, I'll leave this personal tribute now, for others to say what they will...

Harry Patch : A Tribute

One by one by one his years
like his fellows fallen back in time
as once for all they fell in line

Hats off to Harry
a gentleman of many years
whose yesterdays are ours
to carry now into tomorrow
as one who has outlived his sons
now slips away to join the friends
whose lives were war ripped ragged
With Harry Patch a generation
passes, a silent banner that unfolds
revealing ways for us to humbly follow

Past master of the Lewis gun
entrenched and fearful
bathed in mud and christened
in his comrade's blood
a lesson still for all to see
as war itself and not the Hun
was Harry's hated enemy
He swore a pact with gunner crew
when faced with hell
that they should use their skill
to wound their foe but not to kill

As donkeys once all dressed as fools
and pressed perverse deluded rules
upon the Tommy lion pack
the sacrifice was cruel

to share a smoke
was more profound than any words
that could or can be spoken
duty
steadfast
honour
grief
we might choke as they upon the day
that dawns the fresh cut green
of rising bile the taste of blood cut
swelling tune on blackened bitter tongue

With Harry Patch a generation
passes, a silent banner that unfolds
revealing ways for us to humbly follow
One by one by one his years
like his fellows fallen back in time
as once for all they fell in line

Hats off to Harry
a gentleman of many years
whose yesterdays are ours
to carry now into tomorrow


In memory of Harry Patch
17th June 1898 - 25th July 2009
and all his comrades who have now fallen.

That we may not forget their sacrifice.


Mark Shepherd
dashpoet
2009


'experience the art'
http://www.dashpoetry.com
http://www.dashpoet.com
http://www.jackiea.co.uk

Category:

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Tags:

• Harry
• Patch
• tribute
• fallen
• comrades
• honoured
• not
• forgotten
• poem
• Mark
• Shepherd
• dashpoet

[stephenjamescrowther]

hi mark,well done mate,great poem,

five stars from sj.

[clayLavl]

i don't know who this person was but you did a great job.

[DoorsChick1967]

Very moving, intricately layered. Love the phrase "war ripped ragged" among others, 5*

[mindovermatter2009]

sorry love! I meant i love you and your heart. What a perfect tribute Mark! Harry Patch~ R.I.P

xx : (

[mindovermatter2009]

Hello Mark! I have missed you and life is too short to miss out on the worlds inner beauty.You are a great part of that beauty Sir. We must never never forget our fathers' work and shall carry the torches best we can. Lovers and fighters for love!!!

Beautiful Mark. Hats of to you and to the Harry's of the world!!

I love you and your heard dear!

Lisa~

x

many starz and a fav again!

[IGrazor]

A superb tribute Dash. Watching Harry on TV I was always struck by the contrast of seeing him now, and how young he would have been when first plunged into war. Sad and sobering in equal measure.

[loctia1]

Mark, who was Harry? poem power driven, wonderful imagery; i feel i am there. i, too, love your imagery. as a freedom fighter, i have been there even when i was young

cheers, hunter

[NewBrazdolph]

Hi Mark..sorry, i dunno who harry was...loved your earring! xoxo, Jana.

[PulsarPoet]

Thank you Mark. We must never forget.

[haliastales]

beautiful - lots of passion, you certainly have the lungs for poetry :-)