Gregory Richard Barden | + Follow Poet |
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return to Flanders fields -

my brittle bones are like this fence, so built
          on throes of horrors shrouded with the hilt
               of war's inanely senseless blade, now dulled
     by all the precious souls its edge has culled …

now ages gone, those boys amid their dreams
          and yet the air still trembles with their screams
               so daubed in bleeding sun, how death imparts
     these fields of poppy roods and purple hearts.


 ~ For Lt Col John McCrae, and all life lost to war ~








~ 1st Place ~  in the "Purple 2" Poetry Contest, Kevin Shaw, Judge & Sponsor.

~ 1st Place ~  in the "Contest 545 Any Form, Any Theme" Poetry Contest, Brian Strand, Judge & Sponsor.

(In honor of the poem by Lt Col John McCrae, and all lives given to war).

Copyright © Gregory Richard Barden | Year Posted 2019

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Line Gauthier Date: 2/18/2019 7:42:00 AM Congrats on your beautiful poem, Gregory. Login to Reply Gregory Richard Barden Date: 3/2/2019 5:42:00 PM Thank you so much, Line! :-)

Connie Marcum Wong Date: 2/14/2019 6:38:00 PM This poem is spectacular Greg, and so deserving of your first placement. I am putting it into my Faves! Congratulations! Happy Valentine's day my friend! : ) xxoo Login to Reply Gregory Richard Barden Date: 3/2/2019 5:42:00 PM I'm really pleased that you enjoyed this one, Connie, and thank you so much for fav-ing! Blessings, Dear Poet! :-) <3

Jan Allison Date: 2/14/2019 6:13:00 PM powerfully penned, great tribute to those brave men, many congrats Greg:-) hugs Jan xx Login to Reply Gregory Richard Barden Date: 3/2/2019 5:41:00 PM That's very kind of you, Jan, thank you so much! :-) <3

Beata Agustin Date: 2/13/2019 8:27:00 PM Congrats! Thanks for sharing your great talent. God bless you. Login to Reply Gregory Richard Barden Date: 3/2/2019 5:40:00 PM Many thanks, Beata, I so appreciate it! :-) <3

Michael Craig Date: 2/13/2019 3:14:00 PM It is such an honor to have this poem written in honor of one's service in war. Congratulations! Login to Reply Gregory Richard Barden Date: 3/2/2019 5:40:00 PM Thank you so much, Michael, and especially for your service and sacrifice! Blessings to you and yours! :-)

P.S. Awtry Date: 2/13/2019 1:21:00 PM I see from the comments below this lovely amethyst was almost left out of the contest... I am so glad it got in and got its well deserved trophy! I wanted to pick out a favorite line...but can't--I like them all... Congratulations dear poet :) Login to Reply Gregory Richard Barden Date: 3/2/2019 5:39:00 PM Oh, thank you so much, PS, that's very kind, my friend ... it actually MISSED the first "Purple" contest, but was entered in the second. Blessings! :-) <3

Charles Messina Date: 2/12/2019 9:02:00 PM A great dedication Greg, awesome! Congratulations for taking 1st place in this contest. Blessings my friend ~Charlie Login to Reply Gregory Richard Barden Date: 2/12/2019 10:07:00 PM Thank you so very much, Charlie, I greatly appreciate the kind words ... these war pieces mean a lot to me, for it's one of the only ways that those boys didn't die in vain - that we keep their spirits alive. Blessings, my friend! :-)

Carolyn Devonshire Date: 1/19/2019 10:24:00 AM Nicely penned, Greg. I kept thinking how the images you created compared to those in the classic "In Flanders Fields the Poppies Blow." Gosh, I memorized that one long ago. Best wishes in the purple contest! Nice touch with the "purple heart." I was going to go in that direction too, but mine has not yet been composed. Login to Reply Gregory Richard Barden Date: 1/19/2019 4:53:00 PM Thank you so very much, Carolyn, I was hoping to bring a bit of that original poignancy to this one ... I didn't get it entered in time, however, so it will NOT be in the contest. I checked and there were placements left, then tried to enter and - poof - gone! Another PS glitch, I believe. Your comment is my prize! ;-) <3