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June 2, 2011, 1:39 pm

Found Poem Favorite | World War II


WWII front page
The New York Times Click on the image to enlarge it, or go to related On This Day page »

Today’s poem, chosen from more than 650 submissions to our Found Poem Student Challenge, comes from John, who is 18 years old and lives in Prospect, Connecticut.

John’s poem does not have a title, but is drawn from two archival Times articles: the Dec. 9, 1941 “U.S. Declares War, Pacific Battle Widens” and the Sept. 2, 1945 “Japan Surrenders To Allies.”

We’ll publish a new favorite, in order of submission, every weekday through June 13.

To read other favorites, visit this page.


It was a war of nerves.
A constant fighting force.
With long lines of fighting men,
ready for war.

On the outskirts of morning,
Came the warden’s war.
Conflicting men dead,
casualties were spread.

Now the Cities fumed,
The ports pathetically silent,
Deprived of warships.
The allies of justice and tolerance
Have won.
Now done with war.


Sources:

On This Day in History Page | December 8, which links to the article “U.S. declares war, pacific battle widens;Manila Area Bombed; 1,500 Dead In Hawaii; Hostile Planes Sighted At San Francisco.”

On This Day in History Page | September 2, which links to the article “Japan Surrenders To Allies, Signs Rigid Terms on Warship; Truman Sets Today As V-J Day.”

Related: Our On This Day index.


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