20 Comments
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Richard Redstone's avatar

Beautiful Andrew.. tears in my eyes also. My grandparents escaped the Nazis in Germany and the pogroms in Russia. Am Yisrael Chai

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PM's avatar

This is very special Andrew. Should definitely be published. I’m sure our community can see to that!

You’re a military expert, a fine thinker and a poet. And through this you’ve brought together the ethos, the logos and the pathos of this war. Thank you.

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EKB's avatar

Ok so now I'm sobbing...this was wonderful!

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Andrew Fox's avatar

Wow. I was somewhat nervous about posting it as amateur poetry is something of a departure from the norm for me. To say the least….

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EKB's avatar

This captured what my heart has been saying. I think you have a hidden talent here.

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odin's avatar

Outstanding! My mother is a Survivor. Still alive although not well. Four of her grandchildren have served or are serving in the IDF. One is currently in Gaza for the fourth time; one is in a SCIF doing who knows what. That is her revenge. The symmetry in this fight against today’s Hitler is perfectly illustrated in your poem. I would not have thought that anyone who did not experience the Shoah would feel and appreciate the irony. Well done Sir!

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odin's avatar

Quick update. My niece is a med student working at the hospital that was hit by a missile. Fortunately she is on Miluyim ( her intelligence specialty is Iran) so she was in a SCIF instead of in the hospital. Thank god.

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Maxim's maxims's avatar

Poetry and War somehow often go hand in hand. In Flanders Fields...? Major McCrae was mourning those who laid their lives for peace. Major Fox here celebrates those that are alive and fighting for that peace. Thank you for the beautiful words, Andrew.

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Mike Berger's avatar

Congratulations Andrew. For the courage you have shown and the poetry in your heart.

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Shana Meyerson's avatar

This leaves me speechless. And as someone so well-known for my “yada yada yada,” that is saying a lot! Thank you for this masterful and emotional tribute! 😭🙏

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Veronica Coak's avatar

Reread. Gets better, if possible from beautiful. Replies further tell me I am on the right of history despite inane messages with that P flag telling me they are.

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A.E. Stahl's avatar

A poem like this can only come from a tenacious, seasoned, battle-hardened soldier-scholar with a deep understanding of not only War and Strategy but also of human psychology, a gifted analytical mind, and most importantly, an honest and empathetic person.

This poem needs to be shared with as many as possible.

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Veronica Coak's avatar

'Heirs of barbed wire ghosts'. Beautifully put.

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Joy B's avatar

Yes.

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Alison R Noyes's avatar

Seamus Heaney is one of my favourite poets. You have done him justice!

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Andrew Fox's avatar

High praise indeed!

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JVG's avatar

So you’re not just a warrior scholar, but a warrior poet!

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Joy B's avatar

Cauterising hatred - so powerful

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Sk's avatar

Thank you

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Brent Davis's avatar

So beautiful Andrew. So you're a talented poet too. Why am I somehow not surprised?

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