Iraq and the Pain of War
Friday, June 22nd, 2007
There’s nothing new under the sun. Pain is as old as the hills and as universal. While the Chinese poem below was composed a little early to qualify for the Society for Creative Anachronism’s timeline (600AD to 1600AD), I felt is was worthy of sharing.
It is certainly beautiful and evocative. It makes me think of so many things: Iraq, World War II, anyone who’s ever lost a loves one. Let me know what you think of it.
author unknown
circa 124 BC
They fought south of the castle,
They died north of the wall.
They died in the moors and were not buried.
Their flesh was the food of crows.
“Tell the crows we are not afraid;
We have died in the moors and cannot be buried.
Crows, how can our bodies escape you?”
The waters flowed deep
And the rushes in the pool were dark.
The riders fought and were slain:
Their horses wander neighing.
By the bridge there was a house.
Was it south, was it north?
The harvest was never gathered.
How can we give you your offerings?
You served your prince faithfully,
Though all in vain.
I think of you, faithful soldiers;
Your service shall not be forgotten.
For in the morning you went out to battle
And at night you did not return.
Iraq, SCA, Society for Creative Anachronism, renaissance, middle ages, medieval, Chinese, china, poetry, poem, verse, war, prince, BC, battle, castle
