Tuesday, 17 May 2016

Poem ~ America: Ready for War - Wednesday, 17 May 1916


Source: File: 150 000 Americans march past the New York Public Library in the, lets get ready to fight, parade. [online] See an original image at: <https://www.reddit.com/r/HistoryPorn/comments/4j65k6/150_000_americans_march_past_the_new_york_public/?> [Accessed: 17 May 2016]

From across the pond
In the city of New York,
A parade overtook streets,
In estimated numbers -
To reach some 150,000
People from all walks.

In unity they marched,
Looked on by a million
New Yorkers - to number
24 abreast - the streets
Filled by stars and stripes.

The procession took
Some hours to pass on
Its way, to declare a virtual
Holiday - the thoughts
Behind the spectacle
Was call 'Ready For War.'

The American people
Had by knowledge of
Europe’s war, realised
Their country had lacked
Defence of aggressors,
From any foreign lands.

A people's movement
Had acted, to prompt
USA's President Wilson
To listen - with Congress
Taking note to concerns
To defend Americans.

Representatives and
Senate agreed to form
A bill - in time of peace,
An army of defensive
To be 25,000 militia
And 206,000 regulars.

With all the windows
Of Fifth Avenue taken,
And banners flying, stars
and stripes flagged
out a unified message;
America, Ready For War?

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1916. Preparedness for War - Huge New York Demonstration. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 8 May 1916. P.10. Col.1. Available at: <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12210082/Daily-Telegraph-May-15-1916.html>  [Accessed: 17 May 2016].

Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 17 May 2016). 



#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #WW1centenary #worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered #WW1America

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