
A BELL THAT DOESN’T CHIME
You’re looking for a hero
That hero isn’t me
I gave up counting daydreams
And climbed into history
On that day I saw a thousand graves
They all said ‘Aged 19’
Wall to wall white marble stone
Stood on grass so green
They went on for miles
As far as I could see
Relics of remembrance
A cosmic storm’s debris
Were they just a band of brothers or just a band of new born ghosts?
Were it not for war they’d ditch the trenches for homeland’s coasts
What was once green grassland is now a battlefield so obscene
Where did it all go so wrong? Could it have been foreseen?
Guess that it hardly matters now
When the stones say ‘Aged 19’
Battles fought and lives all lost
Or something in between?
The portal up in the sky
Got opened bang on time
For mud and guts and diaries
And a church bell that doesn’t chime
Before lockdown shut the cinemas I’d seen the movie ‘1917’. Brilliant in so many ways. Since then I’ve watched it a couple of times more at home. I remembered I’d once written a song called ‘Age 19’ after visiting the WW1 graveyard in Etaples, France a few years ago where there were line after line of gravestones all marked ‘Age 19’. It makes you shiver; it makes lockdown a nothing. I’m told I had a relative who died on the last day of WW1. Imagine that. That war ended at 11am on 11th. November 1918. All he had to do was to stay out of trouble that morning. Sad, for sure. Above is the revised version of the original lyric.


I’m thinking ‘Time Out’ from my ‘Dream Rescuer’ album fits the mood of the trenches in WW1. I hope you agree;
If you’re interested in my book of lyrical verse, ‘LOOKING FOR REASONS’ is available on Amazon, either as a paperback or on Kindle. The UK link is below. Outside of the UK, just type in ‘Zoolon Audio’. The purchase prices have been cut right back, hence they’re not expensive. On Kindle Unlimited it’s even free!
If you’re interested in my inexpensive PROMO VIDEOS FOR AUTHORS hit the link here or aim at the one at the top of this blog.
As ever, if any poets out there are interested in having their poems turned into songs then click here to check it out: POETRY TO SONG
If you are looking for all my other music then you’ll find it to download on BANDCAMP and at AMAZON when searching ‘Zoolon Audio Albums’or you can stream and/or make a playlist of it on SPOTIFY
If you’re thinking about new t-shirts and similar for yourself, here’s my collection you might be interested in ZOOLON’S MERCHANDISE
Copyright © 2017 music; 2015 lyric, Zoolon Audio. All rights reserved. Unauthorised copying, reproduction, hiring, lending, public performance and broadcasting prohibited.
Your beautifully written post is a painful reminder of the futility of war. So many souls were lost, and for what…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. I often play ‘what if?’ games in my head, like ‘what if there were no such thing borders?’ Stupid, I know but worth the thought. Thanks again ~ George
LikeLiked by 2 people
Me too ! What if there were no borders, no allegiance but to humanity , kindness and love? But difference always plays it’s card and it’s been this way since the beginning of times…
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like the verse in Lennon’s song Imagine that goes, ‘Imagine there’s no countries, It isn’t hard to do, Nothin’ to kill or die for, And no religion, too, Imagine all the people livin’ life in peace’ ~ George
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on Books & Bonsai.
LikeLike
Your poor relative died on the same day as Wilfred Owen, what endless loss!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Cathy. I think the relative was a Lance Corporal. I doesn’t seem fair, but I guess war isn’t fair. If you’ve not seen the movie ‘1917’ it’s worth the watch ~ George
LikeLike
Really great post! Beautiful sketches and lovely words. A fitting tribute that puts our covid-woes into perspective.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Chris. I’m glad you liked it ~ George
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the heads up on the sketchbook. And your words are solemn and meaningful. Great job. Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. The sketchbook would be a great thing to have. Thanks again ~ George
LikeLiked by 1 person
1917 is a terrific movie- I’ve been meaning to give it another watch. Beautiful tragic poetry- very fitting.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Anne. 1917 is really worth another watch. It’s not like other war movies either artistically or the story it tells. Thanks again ~ George
LikeLiked by 1 person
1918 is good and so is They Shall Not Grow Old.
Those sketches are amazing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the read ~ George
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sad commentary of war well written in your poem!💖
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Cindy. I’m glad you read it ~ George
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh my delight to read your work! 💖
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is such a strong piece of writing. Really good. I had a great Uncle who was killed in the first few months of WW1.He was in a battleship off the coast of Chile. They received orders to take on the Germans who were in Valparaiso. They were out matched and out gunned. The British ships went down after refusing an offer of surrender from the Germans. 1,600 lost their lives. It is called the Battle of Coronel. What a debacle. My great Uncle was 22. It makes me want to weep! Your words in this post are a tribute to him and to all the others who lost their lives, their futures.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Anne. The true war stories do make you think. My grandad in WW2 ran out of petrol outside of Dunkirk. He ended up in the POW camp bang next door to Krakow concentration camp. He spent the whole war working done the coalmines and getting frostbite. At least he got home at the end of the war, your great Uncle didn’t. I wonder why some humans are so evil. If they weren’t evil your great Uncle wouldn’t have had to go fighting them. Sad truths hurt. Thanks again ~ George
LikeLike
Zoolon, you’ve been such a loyal reader. Tried to use your Poetry to Song, but the link says it is expired. Do you still have my email?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Ruth. I’ve not a clue what WP are doing. I’ve checked with a friend plus also checked my own blog and the ‘Poetry to Song’ link is working OK. WP has gone ‘hit and miss’ I think. I can’t find your email but if it helps I am, email wise, at zoolonaudio@gmail.com Thanks again ~ George
LikeLike
Powerful and beautifully written post, George!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Eugenia ~ George
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
I studied World War I literature & poetry for my college thesis. That was a particularly dark and grim time, for writing and for humanity. You’re right–our lockdown situation is just peanuts in comparison.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. Nothing seems to get better when it comes to humans. Thanks again ~ George
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your title says so much about the emptiness and costly waste of war.
Still it does put the pandemic in perspective. Thanks, George.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for reading. I don’t know where that title came from to be honest. It just arrived. Thanks again ~ George
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s a wonderful title, and it feels like the unsung hero. You are so right about the perspective around Covid in comparison. Really love your thoughts… these drawings are amazing, as well as your lyrics.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Ka. It’s funny how thoughts turn up sometimes. I’m so pleased you liked them ~ George
LikeLiked by 1 person
1917 was amazing. The way it was shot was phenomenal.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. I agree ~ George
LikeLike
I don’t know how I missed this post of yours , George. Glad I visited your blog, I hate missing your posts and this one is an epic piece , the summarization of history and man’s wars and it’s effects., it’s wonderful descriptive. A reflection of your very high emotional and generous IQ.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Lady Yasmin ~ George
LikeLiked by 1 person
Deeply touched by the lyric.
War is, you would have thought, something we might have got over as societies matured.
I suspect there is too much money to be made from it for that to happen.
The First World War was such a senseless waste of lives. Obviously all wars are, but this was all for the ego of a few idiotic empires and their idiot emperors.
Thanks for your poetry.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. I like Lennon’s take on it from his Imagine songs. If you’ve not seen the 1917 movie it’s worth the watch ~ George
LikeLiked by 1 person
The title itself is a draw-card; I add my admiration to the others for the sentiments you express so well here.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Anne. I’m hoping this will all end soon ~ George
LikeLiked by 1 person
Powerful. Your writing voice is strong and clear. Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Stephanie ~ George
LikeLike
Wow, George, wow! All he had to do was stay out of trouble for one more day! Heart hugs to your ancestor! Who knows what mission he was really on…
LikeLiked by 1 person
As bad luck goes he certainly got the short straw. Thanks for ready ~ George
LikeLiked by 1 person