After the battle on the Menin Road, Belgium, 1917 (Photo credit: State Library of Queensland, Australia)
Dread-soaked heart
Heads bowed
Begin to mourn
The soldiers see
Their victory lost
At break of dawn
No heralds blazing
No help arriving
The eve before
The choice was made
This battle lost
To win the war
(c) Helen Valentina 2013, All Rights Reserved
helenvalentina 
this bit of humanity lances my heart.
Thank you so much! Very much appreciated! 🙂
a relative of mine is listed on Menin’s Gate
Wow…I hope this poem shows respect to all who fight in all wars, including your relative, and I hope this didn’t bring back bad memories.
i’m sure this poem does them justice 🙂
i only found out thru talking with my nan about her older brothers and uncles 🙂
The horror is that the choice that was made was not even theirs… forward they cried from the rear and the front ranks died… very nice poignant piece.
Thank you so much! 🙂