Best Peacekeepers Poems
"We are the Dead. Short days ago.
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow.
Loved and were loved, and now we lie.
In Flanders fields. "
Quote By _ John McCrae (Flanders Fields)
on the eleventh month, on the eleventh day, at the eleventh hour
under a blue hazy sky in my city
we honored those who answered the call and died
for the peace and freedom that we enjoy today
we have a beautiful war monument and statue
and a tomb of the unknown soldier
that we treasure everyday not just on November eleventh
all the wars are engraved in stone
World War I, World War II, The Korean War, Afghanistan
and it honors the peacekeepers who lost their life's also
the sound of the bands, the parade of branches of the military
the 21-gun salute, and the jet fly over, and the choir singing
the pipers and trumpet, breaks the silence of those standing tall
and when it is over everyone removes their poppies
and places them on the tomb of the unknown soldier
like red tears cascading
____________________
November 11, 2022
Submitted to the contest, 2022 Poetry Marathon, Mile 25
sponsor, Mark Toney
SARAJEVO the peacekeepers
Tomorrow there won't come a morning bright
filled with a hope that peace has come at last
and smiling girls can't dance out of a night
that's been too dark and too long in the past;
from out of troubled dreams, peacekeepers dare
to bring an end to hates' eternity
not knowing it is roots that brought it there
they stumble in the cold and misery,
they'd surely dance with all the girls they find
except their worlds are separated by
the ways that time's erased from their own mind
and so they scratch their heads, and wonder why;
an understanding never comes around
and so they leave it all the way it's found.
© Ron Arbuthnot
"We are the dead. Short days ago
We loved, felt dawn and saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved ...."
By _ Lt. Col. John McCrae (In Flanders Field) 1915
________________
Let me tell you a story . . .
I recall a little boy who played in the sandbox
and drove me crazy most of the time
I had to chase him everywhere
but he had a dream to be a soldier
a Canadian Peace Keeper
we, the family were proud but frightened also
Dad would say, he is a peacekeeper so he will be okay
anyone who tells you peacekeepers do not die
is lying because they do ...
my little brother came home in a box
like so many he fought in a battle far, far from home
I visit his grave often
passing the rows and rows of white stone military markers
my great grandpa fought in WWI
I have a photograph of him in uniform
my grandpa fought in WW2
he never spoke of what he saw
grandma said he came back a changed man
I think a lot about all the men and women who go to war
who have given their lives for peace
wish I could go to Flanders Field Cemetery
and see the 12,000 crosses row after row
is war to be part of this life forever
for, it seems there is always a war somewhere
I read somewhere that
the poppies are dying in Flanders Field
_____________________
November 13, 2021
Poetry/Narrative/Where Poppies Grow
Copyright Protected, ID 11-1606-322-13
All Rights Reserved, 2021, Constance La France
Written for the Premier contest, War
sponsor, Kai Michael Neumann, Judged 12/22/2021
Seventh Place
Life is not always easy and it really depends on where you live,
I cannot speak of life in other countries because I only know Canada;
Canada is a nation of immigrants and all cultural differences we embrace,
Everyone can get an education, even a girl, we are unstoppable, never give up.
Every day there is horrible news on the television and the radio,
Torture, bombing, killing, fighting, and even natural horrific disasters;
Like hurricanes, tornados, flooding, earthquakes, mudslides, all faraway,
In Canada these things rarely happen, but we did have a terrorist attack last year.
Life in Canada is full of opportunity; you can be your very best,
Enjoy the little things and the big things without any fear or abuse;
Speak your mind, even make a powerful speech, we encourage freedom,
Explore our vast wilderness and go anywhere that you want, there are no limits.
We Canadians truly embrace our flag; you will see it every where,
The terrible things we see around the world really break our hearts;
We are the peacekeepers; so just let go of the past because life will go on,
Come to Canada and let go of fear, never give up and embrace our beautiful flag.
________________________-
October 29, 2015
Verse
For the contest, Life According to _____, sponsor, Silent One
First Place
Time marches on but the story doesn't change.
Innocent lives being taken by a person whose deranged..
Last weekend in Pa. it was our state police, one is still
critical, and the other is now deceased..
The unstable shooter is also now gone.
Will this ever stop? What keeps going so wrong?
This tragic story truly rings home for me.
I had a person with mental health struggles in my family.
Psychiatrists rely on the pharmaceutical industry and
prescribe new medications that alter patients' brain chemistry.
Family members are often leery to commit, because our mental
hospitals discharge the patient still unfit, and they are left to
deal with the brunt of it.
At home, these families struggle to keep things in control.
Many times that stress alone will take a major toll.
How many more peacekeepers?
How many more innocent lives is our society willing to sacrifice?
Zimbabwe we hear your country screaming
We're powerless to help you you're at the mercy of a party thats murderous and
scheming
Robert Mugabe and his thugs the Zanu PF
They deny you free elections instead they dole out death
The world see's your pain but hears only one mans voice
Your human rights violated he's taken away your freedom of choice
The United Nation's and the peacekeepers won't intercede in this mess
If it was me that was in power and the balance i could redress
It would'nt take an army
6 men
3 letters
S.A.S
There didn’t have to
be a reason
no one thing
no trigger
it was always boiling
just beneath the surface
always.
It could have been
the number of soldiers
lying empty on the desk
next to the ashtray.
You know the one
the one that left
the two scars
the one into which you
stamped your anger
hostility
hopelessness.
I could always tell
in the car
Adele’s playing
the hours will not pass
quickly
it will be a long night
a call to arms
a call in the morning
“I won’t be in today
something’s come up.”
And blood
would seemingly trickle
from the corners
of your
downturned mouth
from your hateful
eyes
from chewing on
the razors of your
merciless
rage and despair.
So many
candle impressions
left on walls
breaking windows
staining chairs
so many treasures
and keepsakes shattered.
Amazing how everything
was always ready
for a new scene
how you managed to
replace the facts
change the clues
change impressions
replace the views.
But then
you were exceptional at
evaporating the mess
outside scrubbed tidy
(inside would always
be ugly spiteful vengeful)
you were so thorough
so vigorous
through your efforts
appearances were kept.
Not me
nothing clean here
filthy with horrors
dirty with dread
scummy with fear
on the inside
never knowing when
the other heel was going
to drop or when
peacekeepers would
appear skeptical again
arrangements were made.
In the end
you wrote a play
I was the unknowing lead
the irony the comedy
the blasphemy
great theatre
it didn’t win me awards
you got me put away
what a drama!
Your performance epic
your sad woman’s show!
No sweat
took on the bout
no man could win
no sweat
it was the principle of it
I wasn’t lying down but
the judge she didn’t see it
my way
funny that
k’od.
Oh, but now!
But now!
I have today
freedom never
tasted so good
sometimes I’m amazed
that I don’t
have more scars
but then again
your aim was never
that good
was it?
(click on the pic to buy my poetry book!)
clad in black berets and boots
all camouflaged with heavy guns
their armoured jeeps in Indian file
like obedient dogs they march along
faces pale from the burning sun
peasants tender, weak and poor
gaze helpless at the peacekeepers:
what begets this act of war?
give them a chance to make their bread
lend them a voice to sing their song
show them love, let them dream
that’s how peacekeeping is done!
My brother was a real beautiful baby
and the sweetest little brother a sister could have.
He wanted to be a peacekeeper- thats what Canada is famous for,
so he enlisted and oh gosh, he did look handsome . . .
then, he left on a peacekeeping mission.
It was to a country I did not know
far away, a foreign land and a foreign war.
We watched the television at the horrific scenes of bombing- fighting,
father would tell us don't worry he's a peacekeeper . . .
as time rolled on and we accepted his dream.
Those images of roadside bombs scared me
those news cast reports of fighting breaking out all over,
of terror groups who have no value for life- theirs or anothers.
Anyone who says peacekeepers don't die is wrong . . .
I often kneel at my brothers military grave.
And lay red roses for that sweet little boy
who died a hero with dreams of peace in the world.
_______________________
May 24, 2017
Verse/A War Far Away
Copyright Protected, ID 904137
Written for the contest, Foreign War
Sponsor, Lewis Raynes
Ninth Place
O, Canada we sing, standing tall with pride as one,
for our land of natural beauty, mountains, trees and lakes;
we are a peaceful country of many races and religions,
we are all immigrants as our ancestors came by boat from across the ocean.
I am so proud that we are the peacekeepers of war torn countries,
our history is vast and fascinating and we have come a long way;
I love this country from the open-spaces to the clean water,
for the diversity of people, a mix of all nationalities living as one.
Canada is a country with freedom of speech, thoughts and belief,
and just one tiny thing to boast about please, we invented hockey;
I am so proud and realize that I am lucky to have been born in Canada,
so proudly, I stand to sing, O, Canada strong and loud.
______________________________________
Added after Judging January 20, 2020
Written, December 23, 2019
Poetry/Ode/We Are the Peacekeepers
Copyright Protected, ID 19-1211-133-02
All Rights Reserved. Written under Pseudonym.
Written for the contest, Whitman-Inspired Uplifting
sponsor, Carolyn Devonshire
First Place
Soldiers
Protectors, peacekeepers, sometimes quiet, always strong
Fighting for the cause, the promise, democracy, the freedom for all
Paying with life and limbs, saving broken people
But ever more standing tall, standing strong
Soldiers for our past, present and future, in spirit and combat
Defending with God’s thunder and strength
Giving it all, everything of you, sacrificing time with family
Fighting, protecting a foreign land,
full of enemies, catastrophes
No matter what always taking a stand
Fortifying the right to live safe and free
Over here and across the sea
Sacrifices of great men and women
So we can do the simplest things
You give it all, standing tall, in a blazing sun
Tropical lands and events of nature
In times of peace, in times of unrest
You are there for us, for them answering the call
Instinctively, brave men and women giving your all
No need of UN peacekeepers in DRCongo
As they seemed to fail their mission
after some decades.
Many Congolese accused the UN militaries
to support the rebel troops in many part of Southern , Nothern Kivu and Ituri provinces.
Few days back ,
some civilians marched peacefully,
while claiming the depart of UN peacekeepers
as they were caught many times supplying munissions
to some rebels.
It happened many times for the rebels to hide
in UN military bases when they were ambushed
by the Congolese national defence forces.
The people who marched were shot by four complice militaries who refused to point the commander
who gave them orders to shoot on civilians
who claimed their rights.
It caused a bed tension in the entire country for some days.
The government officials decided for the swift of UN peacekeepers in the entire country to please people
who are tired of them from twenty six years
in that useless UN peace mission.
September 22/2023
The snow is falling, falling on Remembrance Day,
and I cannot help recall and remember my brother;
now, his beautiful name is engraved in a stone gray,
he was more than a brother but a friend like no other.
He left only wanting to keep Canadian peace,
those who think peacekeepers don't die are wrong;
until my last breath I keep in my heart a piece,
of him- and my love for a soldier brave and strong.
___________________________________________
November 9, 2020 repost from- November 10, 2019
Poetry/Verse/'A Soldier Brave and Strong'
Copyright Protected, ID 11-1303-387-10
all Rights Reserved, 2019, Constance L France
WE STILL REMEMBER an historic event
Brian Strand, Blog Challenge, November 9, 2020
On Remembrance Day . . . I lay poppies at his grave, a lonely grave among
many, the military grave of my brother. He had been a beautiful baby and
sweet little boy, oh, where did the years go- soon he was a young man; and
telling us he wanted to be a peacekeeper for Canada, and with a smile he left
on a mission to a far away distant land and a distant war. We watched scenes
of bombing and fighting and terrorists, father would say "don't worry he's a
peacekeeper." As time rolled on we accepted that was his dream, but anyone
who says peacekeepers don't die is wrong. I will never ever forget the day he
came home to us, in a box- a hero who only had peace for the world; and I will
forever be doing- an offering of poppies for this brave young man . . .
rows of white head stones
where poppies sway in the breeze-
miles of the brave dead
______________________________
April 25, 2019
Poetry/Haibun/An Offering of Poppies
Copyright Protected, ID 19-1137-528-02
All Rights Reserved. Written under Pseudonym.
Written for the contest Pick a Title, Vol. 4
sponsor, Edward Ibeh, Title Chosen #1, An Offering Of Poppies
Second Place
As we walk the down
The path of life
We find some areas aren't
As well lit as others.
And it's within these sections
That our hope seems to fade
As we go through them.
Fears begin to surface
When we can't see
What's in front of us,
Questions of doubt rise
Like tiding waters.
We even believe that
At times it seems
We're journeying alone
During this process.
Such is not the case.
You're never alone.
Regardless of our circumstances
There's always someone to turn to
During times unknown.
You have to humble yourself,
Sometimes we're our own worst enemy
When it comes to asking for help.
But if we set aside our pride
For just a moment, we'll see that
When refuge is sought
Sanctuary can be found
In the arms of uplifters
In the hearts of encouragers
In the presence of peacekeepers
In the bigger picture of the open minded
And in the hands of helpers.
We are woven together like fabric
And are here to lighten the darker
Regions of your path to restore
Your hope and faith
As you move forward.
Our hands extend to you
With acceptance and
Without judgment of any kind.
Whatever your questions may be
Know that we'll do our best
To find an answer for you, honestly.
No one is refused
And all are welcome
To come and go freely.
Forgive us for not properly
Introducing ourselves,
We are the trusted and
The faithful in understanding
We are the ears that listen,
We are the shoulders
That are leaned upon
We are voices of reason
We are your bridge
Over troubled waters
We are your faith in times of fear
We are the ones who have
Nothing to gain by lying to you.
We are your truest friends
And confidants, and
We are here for you,
How can we help?
1/25/18