Forum Activity for @arthur

Arthur
@arthur
11/02/17 02:48:57PM
5 posts

THEY FOUGHT FOR OUR FREEDOM by Arthur Cole
West Coast Eisteddfod Online Poetry Competition 2017


They fought for our freedom, on land, sea and air,

courage not withstanding, many souls were laid bare.

Comrades in arms, through wars of attrition,

to free the oppressed, their ultimate mission

           "We will remember them"


On far foreign fields, with no quarter given,

many brave heroes, ascended to heaven.

Never returning, laid to rest where they fell,

now in the "Lord's" care, in heaven they dwell.

           "We will remember them"


In this day and age, wars are more common place,

brave heroes dispatched, not knowing their fate.

Loved ones they weep, hearts breaking in two,

praying to God, please guide safely through.

           "We will remember them"


Lest we forget, those who never returned,

our freedom today, is what they all earned.

Those lives sadly lost, in conflict of war,

remembered this day, from near and afar.

           "We will remember them"


Wear a cardinal poppy, with pride and respect,

to fighters for freedom, who died to protect.

Remember the fallen, who never returned,

those loved ones they left, who now sadly yearn.

            "We will remember them"



Arthur Cole...All Copyright Reserved.



updated by @arthur: 11/02/17 02:49:51PM
Arthur
@arthur
11/02/17 02:47:47PM
5 posts

WAR HORSE by Arthur Cole
West Coast Eisteddfod Online Poetry Competition 2017


I remember it well, as if yesterday,

my master cried, but he had to obey.

Uniformed men, they stole me that day,

my future now destined, a land far away.


Down to the port, with thousands like me,

winched on a ship, our fate history.

We landed in France, not knowing our worth,

paddocked together, no peace on earth.


Shell blasts I hear, far away in the distance,

all new to me, the night sky it glistens.

That is the night, death hit home to me,

a war horse my fate, that's how it would be.


The following day, a task I was given,

pulling a gun, so unforgiving.

Mile after mile, slowly and tiring,

shells bursting above, brave men lay dying.


Once at the front, harness undone,

back down the line, a hero unsung.

Fed and watered, I lay down to rest,

these foreign fields, would be my bequest.


Four years I toiled, carnage abounding,

pulling the canon, gunfire resounding.

I lost many friends, to gas and shell,

the stench of death, made heaven a hell.


Peace came at last, it had taken its toll,

horses and men, many lost souls.

That deathly stench, with me forever,

brave men and horse, in heaven together.


We all played our part, in that abhorrent war,

while enemy soldiers, spilled each others' gore.

I was taken by men, to follow this course,

home I am now, a strong proud war horse.


Arthur Cole.....All Copyright reserved.




updated by @arthur: 11/02/17 02:50:36PM
Arthur
@arthur
11/02/17 02:46:38PM
5 posts

A WIDOW'S TALE by Arthur Cole
West Coast Eisteddfod Online Poetry Competition 2017


We married young, had the world at our feet,

a family we planned, to make life complete.

Heartbreak and sorrow, now with me for life,

a widow I am, no longer a wife.


That fateful morning, with songbirds on high,

not a care in the world, a cloudless blue sky.

His box I prepared, with a jack full of still,

a "cwtch" and a kiss, a wish of good will.


A few hours later the hooter did blast,

I knew in my heart, that lives had been lost.

Women all rushing, with children in tow,

panic and prayer, for their loved ones below.


Atop of the mine, men with faces like stone,

down below rescuers, working like drones.

A fall was the cause, three miners entombed,

the love of my life, would be later exhumed.


The hours they passed, brought up one by one,

bodies bleeding and broken, a bright morning sun.

My husband and lover, a blanket did cover,

no "cwtches" and kisses, our love affair over.


That morning I cried, my heart broken in pieces,

from a wife to a widow, that grief never ceases.

He died in the bowels, with "butties" he loved,

no solace for me, left all alone up above.


Arthur Cole....All Copyright Reserved.


updated by @arthur: 11/02/17 02:50:10PM
Arthur
@arthur
11/02/17 02:45:38PM
5 posts

THE RIPPER by Arthur Cole
West Coast Eisteddfod Online Poetry Competition 2017


Dense smog, alleys, cobbled streets,

a predator lurks, what havoc he wreaks.

Preying on whores, who are a plenty,

many believed, he was landed gentry.


Brothels, poor houses, they did abound,

Whitechapel the area, his hunting ground.

A black shadowed butcher, lying in wait,

whores walking by, not knowing their fate.


His victims became, the "canonical five"

slaughtered they were, no chance to survive.

Wielding his scalpel, a dark shadow cast,

stomachs ripped open, throats duly slashed.


Slaughter abounding, whores still plying,

their only fear, the next one dying.

The killings ended after the fifth,

thus creating this life long myth.


Theories abound, who was this man,

roaming the streets, scalpel in hand.

Even today, we are not any nearer,

who was that man, we call "Jack The Ripper"


Arthur Cole...All Copyright Reserved.


updated by @arthur: 11/02/17 02:50:52PM
Arthur
@arthur
10/29/17 02:23:52AM
5 posts

ALWAYS IN OUR PRAYERS by Arthur Cole
West Coast Eisteddfod Online Poetry Competition 2017


Devastation dawned, that Autumnal morn.

no warning given, a village would mourn.

A destructive torrent, slag, slurry and coal,

"Pant Glas" engulfed, many angelic souls.


The whole world looked on, in total despair,

a Welsh mining village, united in prayer.

Brave miners rallied, rescuing with haste,

children and staff, from a black deadly waste.


With bare hands they dug, searching for life,

whilst villagers wept, through all the strife.

Lost souls that day, fought for life saving air,

a black rancid slurry, laid classrooms bare.


As day turned to night, with hope fading fast,

rescuers exhausted, a dark shadow cast. 

On that fateful day, the "Lord" took one forty four,

if only he'd given them a few hours more.


That deadly morning, all laughing, nothing amiss,

without any worries, their young lives were bliss.

Not a care in the world, half term that day,

a few minutes later, innocence stolen away.


"Aberfan" has survived, scars have now healed,

"The Lord" did give life, grief was never concealed.

They say that time heals, you may not agree,

fifty one years on, the world's still shedding tears.


"MAY YOU ALL REST IN PEACE"


Arthur Cole....2017....All Copyright Reserved.


updated by @arthur: 11/24/19 06:16:51PM