Two Poems From World War One, "In Flanders Fields" by John McCrae 11/30/1872 - 01/28/1918 and "Dulce Et Decorum Est" by Wilfred Owen March 1893 - 4 November 1918, narrated by Mike Vendetti.
Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae was a Canadian poet, physician, author, artist and soldier during the First World War and a surgeon during the Second Battle of Ypres, in Belgium. He is best known for writing the famous war memorial poem "In Flanders Fields". McCrae died of pneumonia near the end of the war.
After the death of his friend and former Student Alex Helmer on May 2, 1915 from a German Shell McCrae wrote "In Flanders Fields" May 3 while sitting on the back of an ambulance observing Helmer's grave. He handed the poem to Seargent-Major Cyril Allinson who later stated:
"The (Flanders Fields) poem was an exact description of the scene in front of us both. He used the word blow in that line because the poppies were being blown that morning by a gentle east wind. It never occurred to me at that time that it would ever be published. It seemed to me just an exact description of the scene."
The poem was published in the London magazine Punch on December 8, 1915.
McCrae's poem encourages men to join in the fray for love of country and those who have gone before.
2 LT Wilfred Owen, poet and soldier 'My subject is war, and the pity of war. The poetry is in the pity.'
An English poet and soldier, Owen depicted more graphically and effectively than any poet before him the horrors and realities of fighting in the trenches. His poignant verse has made him one of the greatest voices to emerge from World War I.
Dulce Et Decorum Est very graphicly describes the horrors and realities of fighting in the trenches. Owen became a pacifist, but he continued to do what he felt was his duty. He led his men into battle and as this poem so graphically describes saw them suffer and die. He did not ask his men to do anything that he would not do himself. He was killed in action only days before the Armistice was signed.
He ends the poem with "Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori", and refers to the statement "It is sweet and proper to die for one's country" as a lie.
(Tags : Two Poems from World War One (Unabridged) John McCrae & Wilfred Owen Audiobook, John McCrae & Wilfred Owen Audio CD )
