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Death of a Lancer

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Picture credit - britishbattles.com

My one true love with eyes of sparkling blue Our hearts as one it was our destiny Heaven sent you for me and me for you It would not last but end in tragedy. War intervened I’d have to go away To the Crimea with the light brigade My true love I thought of every day Our lives on hold along with plans we’d made. The Captain said “suppress your greatest fears Ride close ranks and do not come asunder” The noise of hooves were ringing in my ears Sounds they made were like a raging thunder. A lance pierced me and off my horse I fell Then death came down, my life I bid farewell. Written on 7th February 2019.

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Line Gauthier

Date: 3/12/2019 6:54:00 PM

Back with more congrats, Tom.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 3/13/2019 5:10:00 AM

Thank you Line. Tom.

Gregory Richard Barden

Date: 3/10/2019 9:38:00 PM

What a wonderful Sonnet and ode to lives lost to the horrid waste of war, (one of my least favorite words) ... a subject dear to my heart. Superb write and congrats on your win, my friend! :-)

Tom Cunningham
Date: 3/11/2019 6:39:00 AM

Thank you very much Gregory, yes war is such a waste, so many lives lost needlessly, and it seems to create more problems than it solves. Tom.

Sandra Haight

Date: 3/10/2019 2:52:00 PM

Tom, this is such an outstanding, well-written Sonnet. And yes...a lump in my through too. Congratulations on your fine placement in the contest! Sandra :)

Tom Cunningham
Date: 3/10/2019 5:19:00 PM

Thank you very much Sandra, it is such a terrible waste of lives, there has to be a better way. Tom.

Janice Canerdy

Date: 3/8/2019 9:31:00 PM

CONGRATULATIONS on your well-deserved win, Tom! Janice

Tom Cunningham
Date: 3/9/2019 6:55:00 AM

Thank you very much Janice. Tom.

Eve Roper

Date: 3/8/2019 9:00:00 PM

Congratulations on your well written win, Tom, enjoyed reading it again. Have a nice weekend. hugs Eve ~,*

Tom Cunningham
Date: 3/9/2019 6:54:00 AM

You too Eve, thank you. Tom.

Timothy Mcguire

Date: 3/8/2019 6:10:00 PM

Nice win Tom!

Tom Cunningham
Date: 3/9/2019 6:48:00 AM

Thank you Timothy. Tom.

Mark Toney

Date: 3/8/2019 6:00:00 PM

Tom, I love the way you're able to put us right there in the scene. How quickly lives are lost in battle! Your picture is perfect. Congratulations on your win on Mile 22 of my 2019 Poetry Marathon Contest! Thank you so much for supporting my contests. By continuing to place in the contests you are accumulating points toward the final, which is just 5 contests away! ~Mark

Tom Cunningham
Date: 3/9/2019 6:54:00 AM

Thank you Mark for my placement, even today hundreds of lives lost in needless wars, if only people would talk and compromise. Tom.

Line Gauthier

Date: 2/27/2019 10:08:00 PM

Well penned, Tom. Congrats on your well deserved win.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 2/28/2019 11:11:00 AM

Thank you line. Tom

Jennifer Proxenos

Date: 2/14/2019 9:31:00 AM

Hi Tom, The Crimean war - that was part of our syllabus at school - you penned this poem so realistically that I found myself running away from this battle, and then suddenly, I came back down to earth and realized I wasn't among the horses hooves - a terrific poem! Poetry hugs, Jennifer.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 2/14/2019 10:39:00 AM

Thank you Jennifer, I bet it must have been spectacular to see but horrendous for those involved in it. Tom.

Caycay Jennings

Date: 2/13/2019 11:48:00 AM

Very, very good! The drama was excellently delivered within 14 lines; I could feel his pain - you did that. This is moving, one that is hard to shake off. All the best ... CayCay

Tom Cunningham
Date: 2/13/2019 12:29:00 PM

Thank you CayCay, sonnets do restrict you a bit, I could have said a lot more . Tom

Nette Onclaud

Date: 2/12/2019 2:16:00 PM

Tom Cunningham
Date: 2/12/2019 2:41:00 PM

Hi nette, hope your week is going well.

Avis Bailey

Date: 2/12/2019 9:51:00 AM

Randomly reading poetry this a m, Tom. I came across yours and enjoyed your pen. There's nothing better than love and war. Realizing war claims so many lives, each with a life. much can be said in few words.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 2/12/2019 9:54:00 AM

Thank you very much Avis, I'm happy you enjoyed it. Tom.

Charles Messina

Date: 2/11/2019 8:28:00 AM

Great write Tom. The last lines were perfect. Enjoyed this. Charlie

Tom Cunningham
Date: 2/11/2019 9:00:00 AM

Thank you very much Charlie, happy you liked it. Tom.

Kai Michael Neumann

Date: 2/11/2019 4:18:00 AM

Very sad but well executed ... if you pardon the pun.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 2/11/2019 8:55:00 AM

Thank you very much Kai, like your comment. Tom.

Gershon Wolf

Date: 2/10/2019 10:01:00 PM

Hey, this could even have been set in the Russia of today (or 2014, at least). Interesting ink, Tom! ~ Gershon

Tom Cunningham
Date: 2/11/2019 2:32:00 AM

Thanks Gershon, the charge of the light brigade was down to bad intel, instead of facing ground troops they rode into the might of the Russian artillery, it was carnage. Tom.

Arthur Vaso

Date: 2/10/2019 9:17:00 PM

I enjoyed this sonnet, and as you mentioned the Crimea I am interested in the historical context!

Tom Cunningham
Date: 2/11/2019 2:30:00 AM

Thank you Arthur, I wanted to say more but in sonnet form I was somewhat limited. Tom.

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 2/10/2019 7:38:00 PM

Great theme for the sonnet form, Tom. Sad ending!

Tom Cunningham
Date: 2/11/2019 2:29:00 AM

Thank you Andrea, Hope all's well. Tom.

Mystic Rose Rose

Date: 2/10/2019 5:47:00 PM

Death by war can be a cruel joke and love is the greatest sacrifice we pay at times like these. Well written dear Tom xo

Tom Cunningham
Date: 2/11/2019 2:27:00 AM

Thank you very much Pixie. Tom.

Carolyn Devonshire

Date: 2/10/2019 3:59:00 PM

How I love poems that tell stories and the sonnet lends easily to narrations of love and war. I was fully engrossed in the action, Tom, and though the ending is sad, it is still uplifting to know this warrior had known love in his lifetime. Excellent writing, my friend. Love, Carolyn

Tom Cunningham
Date: 2/11/2019 2:27:00 AM

Thank you Carolyn, I imagine that this happens a lot,soldiers finding love but never to return to their loved one. Tom.

Gordon Mcconnell

Date: 2/10/2019 1:57:00 PM

Fine writing Tom, really enjoyed reading this. Well done indeed!

Tom Cunningham
Date: 2/10/2019 2:18:00 PM

Thank you very much Gordon, I'm happy that you enjoyed it. Tom.

Robert Lindley

Date: 2/10/2019 9:29:00 AM

Truly exquisite verses in this superbly crafted sonnet my dear friend! War is hell regardless of the victor's joy. Yet bravery is not a negative, even tho' one may abhor war. For bravery shows the courage, valor and faith men have in a just cause and in a sacrifice (if need be) to gain such.. A fav, a great and inspiring poem for me to find and read this morn.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 2/10/2019 1:30:00 PM

Thank you very much Robert, your kind comments mean a lot and are very much appreciated. Tom.

Nette Onclaud

Date: 2/10/2019 9:13:00 AM

jet lagging?.. happy weekend, tom!..huggs

Tom Cunningham
Date: 2/10/2019 1:28:00 PM

No Nette, I'm firmly at home for the moment lol. Hope you have a good weekend too. Tom.

Lindsay Laurie

Date: 2/8/2019 6:55:00 PM

G'day Tom … a nice sonnet with a topic that goes well with them. Over time, there has never been an alternative to war that destroys so many families - thank you Tom - Lindsay

Tom Cunningham
Date: 2/9/2019 7:42:00 AM

Thanks Lindsay, I'm sure if politicians' tried harder many of these conflicts' could be avoided, man never learns. Tom.

Anne-Lise Andresen

Date: 2/8/2019 1:27:00 PM

- So many brave people who died ... they lived with fear, 24/7 ... cruel to think about - Great written, Tom - hugs // Anne-Lise :)

Tom Cunningham
Date: 2/8/2019 4:05:00 PM

Thanks Sunshine, wars seem to be the norm, have been happening since time began, such a tragic waste of life, it never really solves problems, look at the middle east. Tom.

Eve Roper

Date: 2/8/2019 10:12:00 AM

Wonderful read, Tom, what they and all of war suffer a time of war.Have a nice weekend and may you have a great Valentine’s Day. hugs Eve

Tom Cunningham
Date: 2/8/2019 4:02:00 PM

Thank you very much Eve, I hope you too have a lovely weekend. Tom.