Remembering War
and preparing for a civilised world
Remembrance Poems
Words for Remembrance Day - the words of Laurence Binyon.
They shall grow not old
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
From Laurence Binyon's poem For the Fallen, written in September 1914
The full poem, For the Fallen, is printed in both Minds at War and Out of the Dark as well as in Remembrance Poems and Readings. Binyon's poem Now in thy Splendour is also printed in Remembrance Poems and Readings.
And Death Shall Have No Dominion
They shall have stars at elbow and foot;
Though they go mad they shall be sane,
Though they sink through the sea they shall rise again;
Though lovers be lost love shall not;
And death shall have no dominion.
An extract from the poem written in1933 by Dylan Thomas
A remembrance poem that may be read or sung
Remembrance
by Charles Henrywood
May be sung to the music – Finlandia by Jean Sibelius
Grant peace, O Lord, across our strife-torn world,
Where war divides and greed and dogma drive.
Help us to learn the lessons from the past,
That all are human and all pay the price.
All life is dear and should be treated so;
Joined, not divided, is the way to go.
Protect, dear Lord, all who, on our behalf,
Now take the steps that place them in harm's way.
May they find courage for each task they face
By knowing they are in our thoughts always.
Then, duty done and missions at an end,
Return them safe to family and friends.
Grant rest, O Lord, to those no longer with us;
Who died protecting us and this their land.
Bring healing, Lord, to those who, through their service,
Bear conflict’s scars on body or in mind.
With those who mourn support and comfort share.
Give strength to those who for hurt loved-ones care.
And some there be who no memorial have;
Who perished are as though they’d never been.
For our tomorrows their today they gave,
And simply asked that in our hearts they'd live.
We heed their call and pledge ourselves again,
At dusk and dawn - we will remember them!
Voice:
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
We will remember them
The author, Charles Henrywood.explains . . .
Until very recently, the War Memorials in Neath, South Wales, officially commemorated only those who died in the two World Wars. Then, in 2008 a group of us who attended the Remembrance parades at the Memorial Gates each year decided it was time those members of our Armed Forces who had given their lives since 1945 should also have a memorial. This view was reinforced when we learned that, other than 1963, not a year had passed without at least on of our Servicemen being killed in the line of duty —peacekeeping comes at a price!
This remembrance poem is Copyright Free for use in remembrance events
"The copyright for this work remains with me, however, I have decided that, if used in an act of Remembrance or in aid of Service charities, copyright is waived.
Charles Henrywood
Let us know if you choose to use Charles Henrywood's words at a Remembrance Service. I know he would be pleased to hear of it. If you write a message to him and email it to me I will forward it to him. - David Roberts, Website Editor. See Contact page. - David Roberts.
Many more remembrance poems can be found by clicking the link to the War Poetry website (below).
Browse at leisure
It's also useful to be able to browse a book packed with Remembrance Poems and Readings.
Remembrance Poems and Readings,
120 pages,
edited by David Roberts
More information about this book on this website.
Available from bookshops world wide and from online stores
You can buy from Amazon, OR associated book dealers
by clicking the link below.
Many more Remembrance Poems can be found on The War Poetry website