Today (Sunday 21st March) is World Poetry Day. Its purpose is to promote the reading, writing, publishing and teaching of poetry throughout the world.

In the Summer 2020 issue of the Bulletin, we encouraged Members to submit their own poems for publication. Poems we received were so varied, sometimes poignant, funny, sarcastic and sad, but all of them were of exceptional quality.  To celebrate World Poetry Day, here are two of our favourites, one of which you may recognise from the latest Bulletin...

HMS Victory

For the raw boned lad
Big hands, so red and rough
Press-ganged into service
His life at sea was tough.

To be a ‘powder monkey’
Was his allocated lot,
Cramped quarters down below
Scant rest, in a swinging cot.

Blows from the Bosun’s ‘persuader’
Kept him working like a dog
Every sinew straining,
Revived with tots of grog.

Accustomed now, to salty air,
The creak and slap of sails,
Shouts and curses from the deck,
Lashing cat o’nine tails.

In his Majesty’s Navy
Sworn ‘till his last breath.
At the height of savage battle
To meet a watery death.

Valerie Eastop

Valerie, wife of Blesma Member Dennis Eastop, has here wonderfully demonstrated how poetry can bring to life an entirely different time and place. The deck of the HMS Victory is many miles away from the military service known by our Members, but the dedication and hardships of the sailor described are portrayed so vividly that the piece seems nonetheless highly relatable.

Conventional Thoughts on the War Dead 1939 – 45

The tiny bugle of each dead man’s soul
Floated softly round my listening ears,
Fluted sweetly as the deep bells toll
To quiet my fears.

For I had thought their souls dwelt in the dark,
Beyond the wild earth’s last mile-marking stone.
A fitful guttering spark ,
Existing alone.

But sensing now they float unseen but bright,
Fingering the stops of Pleasure’s reed,
The drug of sadness thins before my sight
And no mists impede.

I too may search for faint elusive joy,
Plastering sharp conscience with the paste
Of fair amnesia. The gods destroy
But they do not waste.

Brian Wilson

Brian Wilson’s dedication to the war dead is both poignant and hopeful. The speakers’ realisation that ‘I too may search for faint elusive joy’ suggests that their connection and understanding of the spirits of the serviceman since passed is lending them strength. The closing sentiment of this piece is very powerful, and will speak to any reader dealing with loss.

We really enjoy reading our Member’s poetry so please do continue to send yours in to ihj@blesma.org