Sunday 31 March 2013

Survivors


My apologies for the bleak subject this time. 

I was looking around the internet for copyright-free poems when I stumbled across this one. It drew such compelling images in my head that I just had to try and get something down.

The words are by Siegfried Sassoon:

Survivors
No doubt they'll soon get well; the shock and strain
Have caused their stammering, disconnected talk.
Of course they're 'longing to go out again,' —
These boys with old, scared faces, learning to walk.
They'll soon forget their haunted nights; their cowed
Subjection to the ghosts of friends who died,—
Their dreams that drip with murder; and they'll be proud
Of glorious war that shatter'd all their pride...
Men who went out to battle, grim and glad;
Children, with eyes that hate you, broken and mad.

Craiglockhart.
October, 1917.

The words drew such a strong reaction from me since I had, some days earlier been listening to a radio broadcast detailing the mental health of today's soldiers. Some things just do not change. 

The words and image are printed onto silk fabric, the background uses the chance-dyed dye catchers I have collected over the years. Lastly, the whole is overlaid with some sheer fabric, and hand stitched.




9 comments:

  1. Yes, it is a bleak subject, but your quilt relates very well to it.

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  2. What a reminder of past conflicts..........do we ever learn? A very moving piece.

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  3. What a strong piece. I have met shell shocked people and how true the poem. Your piece does it justice.

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  4. What a poignant reminder of just how pointless war really is and how it affects those involved. As Margaret said, will they never learn!

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  5. Thanks so much for your comments.

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  6. Beautifully executed as always Mandy.The poem certainly is harrowing and your work reflects this sentiment.

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  7. Mandy. This is an amazing piece. You married the emotion of the poem with the haunting emotion of your art. Brava!! This is a subject dear to me and this is one of the most poignant depictions of this theme I've seen. Brilliant.

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