Kelly Yamazaki
Journey to Arras
In France, heads turned to the view,
We toured a shimmering countryside of
Crops raised over battle lines.
We drifted down tracks and through fields,
Saw the thorny remnants of trenches in a cool wood,
Paused on a high church wall to hear of generals,
Considered tactics, pinpointed sites of past actions
Where now garden fences extend.
Along narrow roads,
Sunday villagers waved at our luxury coach.
Shoulder to shoulder in a quiet cellar,
We thought of a final letter, lovingly composed,
Crouched in sunlight to pick poppies,
'For souvenirs,' said the mayor.
Later, at the stifling canal side,
We cast wordless flowers to the water
As solemn men fished nearby.
Hovering near the bank,
I heard the dusty clucking of wire-cooped fowl.
On the coach, we listened, watched
And read aloud in turn,
Savoured scenes and memories of words,
Our eyes, each blink, a shutter's click.
In France, there are many silent names on tombs.
They sit in jostling solitude on great monuments,
Arching into summer sunlight,
Or winter rain and snow.
Their bodies lie beyond and round about,
Made anonymous when cold clay held and held them,
Or named in regimental rows,
In quiet corners on shallow hills,
At roadsides where cars speed past,
And roses fringe the stones.
Page(s) 54-55
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