Poem - Do not call me

dbf · 30-01-2009, 11:56 AM

Thanks to a World At War advert on Military Channel, this poem narrated by Sir Lawrence Olivier, is going round and round in my head. Does anyone know more about it?

Found the words on this site.
http://jeffwalker.wordpress.com/2008/10/23/do-not-call-me-father/

Quote:

(Son to father…)

Do not call me, father. Do not seek me.
Do not call me. Do not wish me back.

We're on a route uncharted, fire and blood erase our track.
On we fly, on wings of thunder, never more to sheath our swords.
All of us in battle fallen – not to be brought back by words.

Will there be a rendezvous? I know not. I only know we still must fight.
We are sand grains in infinity, never to meet, nevermore see light.

(Father to son…)

Farewell then my son. Farewell then my conscience.
My youth, and my solace my one and my only.

And let this farewell be the end of a story
Of solitude vast and which none is more lonely.
In which you remain, barred forever and ever
From light and from air, with your death pangs untold.
Untold and unsoothed, not to be resurrected.
Forever and ever, an 18 year old.

Farewell then. No trains ever come from those regions
Unscheduled or scheduled. No aeroplanes fly there.
Farewell then my son, for no miracles happen,
As in this world dreams do not come true come true.

Farewell.

I will dream of you still as a baby,
Treading the earth with little strong toes,
The earth where already so many lie buried.
This song to my son, is come to its close.

Peter Clare · 30-01-2009, 12:11 PM

Hi Diane.

I believe the poem Do Not Call Me is by Junior Lieutenant Vladimir Pavlovich Antokolovski
Killed in action, 6th June 1942.

dbf · 30-01-2009, 12:32 PM

Thanks Peter,

As ever, your knowledge astounds me.

Now, the next question... anyone know anything about the poet?

D

Passchendaele_Baby · 31-01-2009, 12:11 AM

cool...
never heard of it, but, cool!

dbf · 31-01-2009, 02:23 AM

You can hear Olivier's reading of this poem here:
YouTube - Russian Poem - World at War Episode 11 - Red Star - WW2

Gage · 31-01-2009, 09:21 AM

Thanks D.

30-01-2009, 12:11 PM	#2 (permalink)
Peter Clare Legendary Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Second star to the right, straight on till morning. Posts: 10,836	Hi Diane. I believe the poem Do Not Call Me is by Junior Lieutenant Vladimir Pavlovich Antokolovski Killed in action, 6th June 1942. __________________ Avatar - Liberator I AM917 F/120 Squadron RAF Coastal Command. Top U-boat killers of WW2

31-01-2009, 12:11 AM	#4 (permalink)
Passchendaele_Baby ~HiSiNfErNaLmAjEsTy~ Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: I'm A Buller Baby!! =] Posts: 1,121	cool... never heard of it, but, cool! __________________ Sorrow rebuild me as I step out of the light Misery strengthen me as I say my goodbyes I heal my wounds with greif And dream of you And weep myself alive Our Fate Is Not Six, Six, Six, Our Fate Is Six Sixteen Baby!

31-01-2009, 09:21 AM	#6 (permalink)
Gage Very Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: The Battle of Barking Creek Posts: 2,798	Thanks D. __________________ 'There I stood at the bar, wearing a Mae West, no jacket, and beginning to leak blood from my torn boot. None of the golfers took any notice of me - after all, I wasn't a member!' Kenneth Lee - after being shot down on the 18th August 1940. http://www.64-baker-street.org/agents/agent_fany_andree_borrel.html

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30-01-2009, 12:32 PM	#3 (permalink)
dbf _.. _... .._. Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Co. Down, NI Posts: 3,298	Thanks Peter, As ever, your knowledge astounds me. Now, the next question... anyone know anything about the poet? D

31-01-2009, 02:23 AM	#5 (permalink)
dbf _.. _... .._. Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Co. Down, NI Posts: 3,298	You can hear Olivier's reading of this poem here: YouTube - Russian Poem - World at War Episode 11 - Red Star - WW2

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