How stark is the righteous raven!
Sky-shadow,
cloud-maker,
trouble of men.
The past of a soldier
battle-worn, silent
waits at the gate for weather to turn
to make him forget
while the coins in his cup
pretends to be medals.
Down, down, down into the darkness of raven,
Darkly he went —
while the wise, the virtuous, the upright,
told him to fight.
Down down, down into the darkness of raven
Darkly he went —
while only the dead where hailed to be heroes.
he waits and tries to forget.
Flanders by Otto Dix
Linked to Open Link Night at dVerse.
—
May 30, 2019
Björn Rudbergs writings 
To be remembered as a hero, a soldier usually has to die.
Unfortunately… but the broken and torn we try to forget.
They don’t make such handsome statues.
Wow, the image of the old soldier, probably disabled, holding his hat out for coins, is seared into my brain. This is a powerful write; fits into our Memorial Day this week.
I would say that… and often the reasons behind war are often not shared be the soldiers… they are just kill and being killed
A tribute to our heroes who fought the good fight. Powerful poem.
The image of the cup with coins — his only medals….this is devastating. I’m reminded of the US soldiers who came back from Viet Nam and faced anything but the thanks and respect of their fellow countrymen.
Regardless of politics, I am graterful to those who serve.
This is incredibly potent, Bjorn! I can picture the soldier silent, waiting for the weather to turn, to make him forget.
In Celtic mythology the raven is seen as a messenger between two worlds and when we see them here we can sense the warmth of a spirit that has passed. When I read those lines ‘The past of a soldier
battle-worn, silent waits at the gate for weather to turn’ reminded me of someone who was still able to reclaim his spirit
You create such an intense atmosphere with your words Bjorn. I admire those that fight for our freedom, and it’s sad to see them treated dishonorably.
I like the use of kennings in the first stanza – a raven is indeed a sky-shadow. You write so well about aged men, the librarian and now the soldier, Björn, and they seem to real to me.
You’ve so skillfully captured the evils of war and the ongoing woes of its aftermath for its human flotsam and jetsam. An honorable tribute to foot soldiers everywhere, everytime.
This is very powerful–the ravens and the forgotten, wounded soldier who fought when he was told to fight. I like the repetition words and sounds.
Wow! Nice images and sound. I like best that image you painted about the soldier. It is poignant and powerful.
A very moving tribute to those we tend to forget on Memorial Day. They’re fallen comrades, too. Very beautiful. 🌺
I like the thought of the raven being righteous.
The dead are heroes and the living just try to survive the turmoil of their minds.
I don’t know Bjorn but, you write from the darkest places these days. A premonition of disaster seems to loom.
Breathtaking write.
“How stark is the righteous raven!
Sky-shadow,
cloud-maker,
trouble of men.”
Well done. Sheep to the slaughter!
I’m a firm believer that war destroys the soul. This is a perfect illustration of that.
Ouch….great, ,visceral imagery
The first stanza really drew me in. I like the cadence and phrasing. You paint a vivid image of how those who “served” are still at war in this world…just to survive, emotionally, mentally, physically and financially. So sad.
Very powerful image of the trauma war causes!
This made me think about how corvids recognize themselves in the mirror. Here is the soldier, proud and righteous, seeking meaning and power and yet war is profoundly disempowering and often meaningless. It’s a cognitive dissonance to be revered and reviled so the soldier has to decide what to believe when faced with that mirror.
Such is war. Beware the virtuous. (K)