World+War+I+Poetry

WWI poetry seems to be the spiritual inspiration for the GFOP newsletter and, more likely, Roger's career choice. A fine resource for MIBs can be found at [|World War I and English Poetry]0 and at [|First World War.com Prose and Poetry section]

[|The first WWI poem found in GFOP newsletter of 11/3/11 was Herbert Reed's "The Happy Warrior"]

(note: this poem was selected as an ode to John Terry) //His wild heart beats with painful sobs, // //His strin'd hands clench an ice-cold rifle, // //His aching jaws grip a hot parch'd tongue, // //His wide eyes search unconsciously. // //He cannot shriek. // //Bloody saliva // //Dribbles down his shapeless jacket. // //I saw him stab // //And stab again // //A well-killed Boche. // //This is the happy warrior, // //This is he... // The second newsletter featured poem was “[|Anthem For Doomed Youth]” by [|Wilfred Owen] 1917
 * From the GFOP newsletters**:

The third newsletter referenced Edward Thomas [|"Rain"]

The fourth newsletter referenced "Anthem of the Doomed Youth" (we are sensing a pattern here Rog... and we are concerned)

The poem found in the fifth newsletter does not actually appear to be WWI related. It is Philip Larkin's "[|Ambulances]" (then again maybe I'm missing it)

The sixth newsletter featured a poetry salute to Ray Hudson (who had apparently referenced some e.e. cummings poetry) and it was a stanza from "[|i love you much(most beautiful darling] //)"//

Newsletter seven had the poem "[|Base Details]" by [|Siegfried Sassoon]. Roger describes it as "epic" and confesses he memorized it in high school. The wikipedia entry describes the poem's theme as "anger and bitterness" (and we are growing more concerned for Rog)

The next poem is found in Newsletter Nine where Rog is overjoyed at the return of "Saint" Landon Donovan to his beloved [|Everton]. The selection is "[|Happy Is England Now]," by John Freeman.

Newsletter 10 dated January 12, 2012 featured [|Osbert Sitwell]’s 1919 rumination, // Peace Celebration //

Newsletter 11 featured the " [|Battle of Magersfontein] " by Private Smith of the Black Watch December 1899. The origin was the Boer War.

Newsletter 12 dedicated Harold Monro's poem "[|Youth In Arms]" to MCFC's Mario Balotelli.

Newsletter 13 was released on [|Groundhog's Day] 2012 and commends to the GFOPs [|The Penguin Book of First World War Poetry: Revised Edition (Classic, 20th-Century, Penguin)] and dedicates // [|To His Love] b // y Ivor Gurney to Landon Donovan "and his second, all too fleeting, shift in the English Premier League."

Newsletter 14's poem was inspired/selected by GFOP Nick Christie and his admiration for Newcastle's "Senegalese Strikeforce" it was [|Leopold Senghor's][|Night In Sine]

Newsletter 15 from February 15, 2012 featured a poem to "[|Gird Your Loins]" and was selected by GFOP Nick Christie who, in deploring the behavior of Fabio Capello in the John Terry affair, gave us [|Dulce et Decorum Est]by Wilfred Owen

Newsletter 16 from March 2, 2012 featured a poem to "help you make it through the week" which was (again) selected by GFOP Nick Christie who was " lost in “a two-day adventure known as [|the bar exam].“" The poem was "[|Defeated]" by Sophie Jewett

Newsletter 17 practically confirms that GFOP Nick Christie is now the poet lauerate of MIB as he selected a "poem to make your week soar" and it was Wi[|lliam Blake's]"[|Voice of the Ancient Bard]"

Newsletter 18 from March 16, 2012 was "In honor of Napoli’s valiant defeat, we offer you some Italian First World War poetry from [|Giuseepe Ungaretti]who served as an infantryman on the lower Isonzo front with the 3rd Army from 1915 until 1918." That poem was [|"I Am Creature"]

Newsletter 18 (yes, there were apparently two #18 newsletters, each unique enough to be called Newsletter 18) selected a poem "To mark the return of [|Carlos Tevez]. A verse from the Falklands War" and that was "[|What I Miss Most]" by [|James Love]

Newsletter 19 dated March 29, 2012 did not have a specific poem but referenced [|@pmacarth]and that he "made our week by turning us on to this online archive of great First World War Poetry from Oxford University. Put down your pogo stick, this is the new craze that is sweeping the nation. Tons of exquisite poems. And photos like this one that caught our eye: Women munitions workers' football team from the AEC Munitions Factory at Beckton, London."

Newsletter 20's selection was "In honor of Chelsea’s remarkable result and Didier Drogba’s surreal performance in which he scored the winner: Dulce et Decorum Est by Wilfred Owen"

The poem in Newsletter 21 from April 25, 2012 was "In honor of Chelsea Football Club on their night of triumph. A Victory Dance by [|Alfred Noyes]" May 4th 2012 and Newsletter 22's poem was "In honor or [|Roy Hodgson’s]appointment at the 13th permanent manager of England: Dead Man’s Dump by [|Isaac Rosenberg]" May 10, 2012 Newsletter 23's poem was "In honor of the end of the season… For the Fallen// by Laurence Binyon The final poem of the 2011-2012 EPL season in Newsletter 24 fom May 17, 2012 was "[|The Return by Ezra Pound]

The next poetry reference was in Newsletter 29 dated November 15, 2012 and it is as follows: GFOP Robert McDonald sent this telegram via raven: GFOP here, big fan of the pod. Not sure if you saw this, but the Guardian has a video of actors reading WWI poetry in honor of Remembrance Day. Sad to say, no sight of young Scotty Parker. A beautiful note to end on. To all service men and women who follow Men in Blazers – and we have heard from many – we thank you for your service and your sacrifice.