Light the candles, ring out the passing-bells,
 keep up persistent praise of wasted lives, 
stand with bowed heads at their memorials,
 walk solemnly along their lined-up graves.

Remember youth, condemned to not grow old,
 look down into the boundless emptiness 
of all they might have given to the world,
 and grieve war’s gross demand for sacrifice.

Children and children’s children, not conceived, 
unborn, have never searched life’s mystery, 
its passion, grief and joy. And we, deprived 
of their lives, still stand by while others die.

No grief can justify remembrance prayer  
while we still fail to put an end to war.

Alan Gaunt

They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old
(Laurence Binyon)

This is an extract from the November 2009 issue of Reform.

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