Mike Miller Poet Rhyme

Notes About The Poem

 

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Saw a single poppy in the field when walking the dog this morning. It was like a scar, a wound , set against the lush green background of the rising sap of summer. Got me thinking that 2018 marks 100 years since the cessation of world war 1 . I know it’s not the eleventh hour of the eleventh month but I penned this in memory of, and gratitude to, the men and women whose enormous sacrifice earned us the freedom which is the bedrock of our democracy today :

The National Debt

No mind was ever meant to bear
That torment, pain and sorrow.
In that cacophony of hell,
Their lives forged our tomorrow. 

Called to duty, through their service, 
Through their sacrifice and loss, 
The foundations for our future
Were fashioned from their cross.

Far beyond the bounds of nature
Their mortal frames were tested
In bloodied, flea ridden trenches
Their fractured bodies rested.

Those bodies now, in foreign lands
Beneath fields of marble crosses
Bear testament to sacrifice
And countless wartime losses. 

May future generations 
That break upon the shore,
Not forget the pains they suffered
Nor the mental scars of war.

Look upon the scarlet poppy,
See the blood amongst the wheat 
Know the quantum of their sacrifice
Times passage won’t deplete

To those that gave their future
We all owe this National Debt
The terms are very simple
Just that we must not forget.
.

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Line Gauthier February 8, 2021 at 7:56 PM Great to find this awesome tribute published in the 2020 PS Anthology, Mike ~ Mike Miller August 13, 2021 at 1:05 AM Thank you Line. This is one of the favourite poems I have written and took me a long time to write so I was very pleased too it was accepted for the anthology.

Artsieladie Sharon Donnelly June 6, 2018 at 6:35 AM The sacrifices made for our rights & freedoms is a debt we Americans can never repay but at the very least we can honour & give tribute to those who gave all by being a united people, to keep our power strong to make sure our rights & freedoms are never taken away by greedy, self & elitist serving politicians. Several of my family served. My Uncle Frankie was killed in WWII. Mike, you've depicted well the surrealism of the sacrifices many made for us. Congrats on being featured. :) ~ Artsie Artsieladie Sharon Donnelly June 6, 2018 at 8:58 AM Absolutely, Mike. :) Mike Miller June 6, 2018 at 8:06 AM Thank you Artsie. I completely agree with all your comments. The courage and selfless sacrifice of all those who fought to preserve our freedom and democracy can and should never be undermined by self serving politicians. The National Debt we can never repay but the National Treasure of freedom is something we must cherish, value and protect.