Knock me over with a feather!

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

New list today.. 9-01-2017
I almost didnt post it, as I started editing another old poem to post, my mind kept telling me this one had something.
Poets are oft the worst judges of their own creations. I would have never dreamed that this poem would reach the number 1 spot..-Tyr

Now this poem has made it to the number ONE spot of the top 20 poems, of the top one hundred best poems.
A very old poem I wrote 42 years ago, when 21 years old.. Posted exactly as was written 42 years ago..

https://www.poetrysoup.com/poems/best_new_poems.aspx

1 Courage of Youth, Battle of Ypres, Flanders Field Robert Lindley
2 No thunder without lightning Silent One
3 My Love Shall Find You Winged Warrior
4 A to Z of Good Thinking Robert Haigh
5 Threshold of Madness Lin Lane
6 In Celtic Shadows - A Collaboration With Lin Vladislav Raven
7 - Hominoidea - Sunshine Smile
8 Listen Aiyah de Torres
9 Dark Rainstorm Dale Gregory Cozart
10 Humanity White Wolf
11 Kiss of Death arthur vaso
12 Slow Hand Maria Williams
13 It's Quiet Now Tim Smith
14 MY ODYSSEY Demetrios Trifiatis
15 Tit for Tat Poetry Eileen Manassian
16 Artwork - what am I Seren Roberts
17 On Such Divine Evenings Greg Barden
18 Reaping And Relishing Jo Daniel
19 The Quiescent Water Way Victor Buhagiar
20 Fire-Water Dance Susan Ashley

-------------------------------------------------

Courage of Youth, Battle of Ypres, Flanders Field
(A Tribute)

Tough as nails young man with a red right hand
red-fire and whiskey ran in his blood.
Courageous seed of vast and cold hard land
quick temper, power of a surging flood.
Seeker of life, its promised mysteries
rash gambler with all he would ever own.
Born on ship in high wind swept, roaring seas
toughest warrior his town had ever grown.

Met his fate by volley of red-hot lead
buried on ground scared and battle blasted.
Aye boys, fodder that machine guns were fed
fools marching to death, long as it lasted.

Now flowers cover up and Time denies
scenes of battle torn soil and blood-red skies.

R.J. Lindley
April 23rd, 1975

SONNET-(DEATH AND WAR'S FUTILITY)
Tribute to Courage of Youth-- Second Battle of Ypres, April 22nd 1915 .

Note- added - 8-26-2017

Wiki-
The name Flanders Fields is particularly associated with battles that took place in the Ypres Salient, including the Second Battle of Ypres and the Battle of Passchendaele. For most of the war, the front line ran continuously from south of Zeebrugge on the Belgian coast, across Flanders Fields into the centre of Northern France before moving eastwards — and it was known as the Western Front.

The phrase originates from a poem titled In Flanders Fields by Canadian Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae, inspired by his service during the Second Battle of Ypres. The fields were not maintained for years before they were made into a memorial. Today Flanders Fields is home to thousands of poppies.

--------------------------------------

Found this while rummaging through some of my old poems. Decided not to edit it. Leave it as it was composed over 42 years ago..
Added the note for those not familiar with that battle and its horrific carnage, primarily from the insanity of large bodies of troops marching into direct machine gun fire.

Copyright © Robert Lindley | Year Posted 2017