In honor of Memorial Day, a heartbreaking World War One poem. It’s by Archibald MacLeish. He wrote it for his brother.
strong heroines, adorable heroes
In honor of Memorial Day, a heartbreaking World War One poem. It’s by Archibald MacLeish. He wrote it for his brother.
After reading, several times, Memorial Rain by Archibald McLeish, I couldn’t help feeling a certain kinship. This poem written to memorialize his brother reminded me of a poem written by my father. He served in WWII in the Pacific and witnessed the horrors of war, saw many friends perish including his favorite brother. I served as a pilot in Vietnam and also witnessed events I don’t like to think about. In a tribute to his brother dad wrote the following poem that has never been published:
White Crosses in the Moonlight
William Tyler Miller
1944-5
I saw these snow-white crosses
In the moonlight on the hill;
I heard soft voices singing,
I hear them singing still.
They sing a song of triumph,
Their battles have been won,
They shoulder no more weapons,
Sweat out no tropic sun.
I saw these endless crosses
In Doulag’s coral sand;
I heard the hymn of soldiers’
Who loved their native land.
I did not see them dying,
I could not feel their pain,
I only know they loved us,
And that love was not in vain.
It is for us remaining;
Our efforts to increase
In view of what they died for—
A universal peace.
If we would shirk our duties,
Let ignorance tempt our will,
We’ll see these snow-white crosses
In the moonlight on the hill.
Still brings a tear to the eye….
John Miller
Sorry it’s taken me so long to moderate this comment–I wanted to wait until I had time to do it justice, but I am still speechless, to be honest. Thank you for sharing this with me. What a beautiful and complicated thing to have from your father. My grandfather also served in World War II and shared some very painful stories with us–I know there were many more he never shared. ♥ I hope you are safe and well, and that you had a good Memorial Day.
That is so beautiful, a sombre reflection. Thank you.