L Milton Hankins | + Follow Poet |
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These Are Tragic Times

These are tragic times when destinies lie
Enshrouded by war's soggy drapes
And hopeless elegies fair tomorrows deny
Pitifully anguished days of separation--
Heartache, remorse and fear dare
To overshadow the lightest heart's array
Reclothing them in deep despair.
O, tragic times when men must fight
To preserve the nobler state; wend their way
Through a thousand wrongs to make a right
And spill their precious blood upon a field
Carelessly--needlessly and call it honor's sake
These are tragic times that death will not yield
To life, and wars our bravest take.


American Fellowship of Poets
Peace Poem Prize, 1968

FOURTH PLACE WINNER
Lines 8-11 taken from "These Are Tragic Times"
entered into Liberum Divisa 5 Poetry Contest
April 17, 2021

Copyright © L Milton Hankins | Year Posted 2021

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Caren Krutsinger Date: 4/6/2021 9:57:00 PM This was penned during the Viet Nam War and Wow! "O, tragic times when men must fight To preserve the nobler state; wend their way Through a thousand wrongs to make a right" Thank you for sharing! Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 4/7/2021 9:06:00 AM Thanks, Caren. I recently received a copy of my chapbook which a friend managed to find from 1969, and which has long been out of print, in a Morgantown, WV library archives. I'm going to put some of the poems in it on PS, the ones I think folks might like. Thanks so much for your visit, read, and support.

Judy Ball Date: 4/6/2021 9:50:00 PM WoW! So much emotion here and yes your words ring true. They were tragic times but I think this pandemic thing is worse. It is going to lead to a lot of world wide misery. A great write my friend. God Bless, JB Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 4/7/2021 9:04:00 AM I agree with you, JB. Thanks for your generous, kind comment.

Kim Rodrigues Date: 4/6/2021 7:27:00 PM Wow! Was this written about the Vietnam war, perhaps? Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 4/6/2021 8:23:00 PM Indeed it was, Kim. That's why it was so important that I give the date when first published. It's an oldie!!!

Sotto Poet Date: 4/6/2021 6:56:00 PM Superb writes, Milton, also news from the dates all the way back to the 1960s is of relevance and news because it is genuinely relevant even though it was produced yesterday. Gob bless you, Dear Freind Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 4/6/2021 7:20:00 PM Thanks, Lasaad. Yes, I felt everyone needed the context for the poem, which would have been the Vietnam War. Remember it well.