Memorial Day?

A Letter from Aragon

(Rupert) John Cornford (1915-1936)

This is a quiet sector of a quiet front.

We buried Ruiz in a new pine coffin,

But the shroud was too small and his washed feet stuck out.

The stink of his corpse came through the clean pine boards

And some of the bearers wrapped handkerchiefs round their faces.

Death was not dignified.

We hacked a ragged grave in the unfriendly earth

And fired a ragged volley over the grave.

You could tell from our listlessness, no one much missed him.

At one time this day was called Decoration Day and was set aside to honor Americans who died while in the Armed Services. It was not about picnics at the beach, barbeques, a three-day weekend. It was to remember the dead. Soldiers are not saints. Some are bitter. Many are wounded. Few are heroes. But all stand up and all offer their lives to fate.

Cornford was killed at Lopera, near Córdoba, Spanish Civil War.

Night thoughts.

Morgan