does anyone know this poem?

[Soren]

Man at Arms
What are you guarding, Man-at-Arms?
Why do you watch and wait?
'I guard the graves, said the Man-at-Arms,
I guard the graves by Flanders farms
Where the dead will rise at my call to arms,
And march to the Menin gate'.

'When do they march then, Man-at-Arms?
Cold is the hour - and late'
'They march tonight' said the Man-at-Arms,
With the moon on the Menin gate.
They march when the midnight bids them go.
With they're rifles slung and their pipes aglow,
Along the roads,the roads they know,
The roads to the Menin gate.

'What are they singing, Man-at-Arms,
As they march to the Menin gate?'
'The Marching songs', said the Man-at-Arms,
That let them laugh at fate.
No more will the night be cold for them,
For the last tattoo has rolled for them,
And their souls will sing as of old for them,
As they march to the Menin gate.
Anon

I found it on the web, but have never seen it before....

[ypres1418]

Soren,

I have seen it before but can't think where, a very moving piece.

Mandy

[armourersergeant]

I have seen it before...where I hear you cry...well on this forum of course, where else

Arm

[John S]

Perhaps my favourite poem relating to WW1.

Always think of it when visiting Ypres and particularly the Menin Gate.

Regards

John

[scragend]

It's one of my favourites as well. I first saw it in a book about Ypres from an Australian perspective. Sorry I can't be more specific than that

[squirrel]

I've been trying to find this one for the last week or so!

And, apart from this site, I have read it somewhere else but can't for the life of me remember where.

[johnreed]

Tom Morgan can give you the answer, as his enquiries go back to May 2001

John

[Soren]

an idea for an image inspired by this piece, the ghosts of soldiers finding their names on the memorial at night

[marina]

I like that, Soren.

Marina

[Soren]

Thanks Marina

[scragend]

IIRC this poem inspired Will Longstaff's painting "Menin Gate At Midnight", which depicts ghostly soldiers walking over the landscape towards the Menin Gate.

I think the story was something along the lines of him reading the poem, then not being able to sleep and going out for a walk to the Gate, where he saw visions of the soldiers.

[Guest logan]

Hi Scargend

For slight variations on the theme see

http://www.awm.gov.au/encyclopedia/menin/notes.htm

Incidently, I too have recently seen the poem. Had thouhgt it had been quoted in the 'your favourite ww1 poem' discussion.

[john w.]

Have a look at this link

http://www.firstaif.info/42/level2/poems/man-at-arms.htm

John

[susanhemmings]

Soren, another classic. Very nice drawing. Each soldier from a different regiment. And the "Man-at-Arms" standing sentry at the gate.

Both are very moving pieces. Thank you for sharing.

Susan.

[ypres1418]

As usual Soren, a lovely piece.

Mandy

[Soren]

thanks everyone,

Much appreciated! the image is a little grainy for some reason, it looks better in the flesh!

Soren