Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, SCARS, by KATHERINE NICHOLS OWSLEY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

SCARS, by                    
First Line: Where now, are those worn watchers who stood by
Last Line: Sing to those whom flanders never knew!
Subject(s): Scars


Where now, are those worn watchers who stood by
When angry waters broke their human bond;
Where are those who stood so valiantly—
Who gave their all, of which they had been fond?
They gave their all and prayed with wordless prayers
While fighting for a cause that must be lost;
The deepening water was no plan of theirs—
Yet they have paid with blood, the heavy cost.

God said the world would not be lost by flood.
No—not all; but there are crosses laid
In graves of swirling waters, where no blood
Leaves trace of agonies brave hearts have paid.
And some, with greater loss, live on to grieve;
Or try forgetting days which once were kind.
Forgetting! while the ebbing waters leave
Their scars upon the land, and on the mind
Of every sufferer. "Earth will renew,"
The hopeful say—they, who helped to pay
For a titanic loss, but never knew
The creeping death where whining waters lay.

Sing to heroes who have fought in wars;
To men whose shots rang with the battle cry.
Sing to the wounded who have worn brave scars
Whether sharing loss or victory!
And those who watched their heart blood borne away
By lurid waters—are they not heroes too?
Sing to watchers of the flood's cruel sway!
Sing to those whom Flanders never knew!





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