A
refuge woman with two children made their way to Paris,
She
tells her small tale, of coming from beyond Compiegne.
There
she could hear the firing of artillery, beyond wooded hills.
The
news was French troops were being pushed forward,
While
English troops appeared, here and there, moving
Towards
the firing. As light faded sounds of firing were distant,
As
if the Boche were falling back. The women and children
Got
away in crowded rail cars, having to wait for hours,
As
the military trains passed first – She found carriages
Cramped
with screaming babies, full of bundled belongings
And
provisions - She notes the rail
staff deserved admiration,
Doing
their work calm and well - Now the men of Compiegne
Have
all been called to arms and boys under 20, called
To
join the reserves alongside those that served in 1888.
Even
men from other districts are now coming, asking for arms
To
join in the fight – as yet none have been mobilised.
by
Jamie Mann
Anon.,
1914. War Stories from Paris. The Daily Telegraph, [online]
03
Sept. p.5. Col.2. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11068551/Daily-Telegraph-September-3-1914.html
[Accessed: 03 September 2014].
Mann, J., 2014. 100
years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 03
September 2014).
#WW1
#WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #ww1centenary #worldwarone
#worldwaroneremembered #Paris
No comments:
Post a Comment