Sunday, 3 April 2016

Poem ~ Ice Water Trenches - Monday, 3 April 1916

Impression sketch of snow bound trenches, Galicia - by Jamie. From an original image that can be seen at: <http://ww1blog.osborneink.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Galiciai_llsok_egy_foly_homokos_rszn_180120.jpg> [Accessed: 3 April 2016]

Within the bitter fight of a front,
Arrived onslaught of nature's thaw.
Over seven days temperatures
Began to rise to burn wintery ice.

Under water's manifest, across
Galicia and Bukovina, the lower
Ground of trenches became as
Viaducts, to push out Germans.

Driven onto the parapets led to
Result of exposures to Russian
Fire - forcing the enemy back
Down into the flowing, icy waters.

Suggestions came how Germans
Side having nervous prompts -
From possible advance of allies -
Their intentions being to interfere.

Whilst sodden earth inhibited, all
Activities were moved towards
Higher, stable ground - separate
Germans attacks were carried out.

With no unified aim, detached
Forces worked forwards to hinder
The unified Russian preparations -
In the wet, as if in slow motion.

The amounts of melt brought
Disadvantage of using all heavy
Motors, as prisoners groaned
From irregular food supplies.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1916. Russian Army - A Flooded Front. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 3 April 1916. P.6. Col.1. Available at: <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12206732/Daily-Telegraph-April-3-1916.html>  [Accessed: 3 April 2016].

Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 3 April 2016). 



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