Poem - Do not call me

[dbf]

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/

(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]

Hi Diane.

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

[dbf]

Thanks Peter,

As ever, your knowledge astounds me.

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

D

[Passchendaele_Baby]

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

[dbf]

You can hear Olivier's reading of this poem here:

YouTube - Russian Poem - World at War Episode 11 - Red Star - WW2

[Gage]

Thanks D.