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Question: Does this poem work for you!?
*****
GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC

Out from the city we march
eight-wide, green clad,
brass shined and cap sat atop just so!.

The girls throw garlands
and blow kisses,
when me otherwise
would provoke
no more than a curious glance!.

Emboldened, empowered,
we stride along proudly,
an army, not simply some men in a line!.

That old man there, campaign ribbon
on his breast, stands erect as we soldier by,
the tears he cries are for him
and his who did not live long enough
to see such glory again!.

Into the fields we march
eight wide, duty bound,
the farmer’s scythe
swung less firmly as he counts,
and the little, little boy
peaks through the hedge and dreams!.

*****
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Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
Good images and it has structure and a certain flow!.
And an interesting title!.
Yes, it works!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

A fine, thought-provoking poem that reminds the reader that what we memorialize and celebrate is also death, and in tender eyes of green imagining, social learning, learning to value what might be tantamount to one's own extinction, in some sense!. The scythe of the final stanza is evocative of the Grim Reaper, "swung less firmly" implies a certain imprecision of aim, of perhaps cutting short something that was not even meant to be in the scythe's path at all (the little boy who dreams of conquest and valor)!. We could all use a few more poems like this!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

The first thing that popped into my mind was that old song "I didn't raise my Boy to be a Soldier" They did anyway!. I am enormously proud, and far more grateful that they came back to civilian life with few scars!.

Stanza 4 brings tears!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

The contrasts: celebration, pain, the innocent little boy!. The dreams of a child who does not understand the consequences v the old man who has suffered for his own little boy grown and gone in war!.

The poem works very well!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Yeah, it works for me!. I'm that little boy who is peaking through the hedge, in the fields of literature!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

It definitely works for me!. I'm soft on the subject matter!.
Who's the fryguy!?Www@QuestionHome@Com

Werks fine, lasts a long time!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

itss nice !. a little hard to understand but i do like it alot , Www@QuestionHome@Com

Your question seems to have disappeared from the poetry site page!. Doesn't seem to be working for someone!.Www@QuestionHome@Com