the moon gives you light

[silveraspen]

Today is Veterans Day here in the US, Remembrance Day in much of the rest of the world.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old.
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

--Lawrence Binyon, from 'For the Fallen.'

What candles may be held to speed them all?
Not in the hands of boys, but in their eyes
Shall shine the holy glimmers of goodbyes.

--Wilfred Owen, from 'Anthem for Doomed Youth'

Last year we fought by the head-stream of the So-Kan,
This year we are fighting on the Tsung-ho road.
We have washed our armor in the waves of the Chiao-chi lake,
We have pastured our horses on Tien-shan’s snowy slopes.
The long, long war goes on ten thousand miles from home.
Our three armies are worn and grown old.

--Li Po, from 'Nefarious War'

Have you forgotten yet?...
For the world’s events have rumbled on since those gagged days,
Like traffic checked while at the crossing of city-ways:...
...Have you forgotten yet?...
Look down, and swear by the slain of the War that you’ll never forget.

--Siegfried Sassoon, from 'Aftermath'

The moon gives you light,
And the bugles and the drums give you music;
And my heart, O my soldiers, my veterans,
My heart gives you love.

--Walt Whitman, from 'Dirge for Two Veterans.'

Please take a moment to remember all those who have served and who still do, the living as well as the dead.

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