Marc Latham’s latest Folding Mirror poem interprets the cover of the new Doris Brendel album, The Last Adventure.
Without hearing the lyrics of the album, or reading any of Brendel’s explanations, the image reminded Marc of Pink Floyd‘s Vera song, so he interpeted it from that perspective within the Folding Mirror form.
Vera Lynn a Female Churchill
Vera Lynn was a heroine in World War Two, travelling to entertain troops around the world, despite the grave danger to herself. She was perhaps the female Churchill, in terms of raising spirits and keeping the country motivated during the terrible times it was suffering.
Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters and Personal Loss
However, Lynn’s song lyrics that We’ll Meet Again of course didn’t always come true, in mortality at least, and Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters lost his father in the war. So, he sang from the loss point of view on The Wall album.
In Afghanistan, British forces are now fighting their deadliest and most justifiable conflict since World War Two against Al-Quaeda and the Taliban. Many service people have lost their lives trying to improve conditions for ordinary Afghan people, and at the same time defending Britain from further terrorist attacks.
Whether their lives have been wasted, as so many British lives were in World War One, or if they will have made a difference, like in World War Two, ultimately depends on the politicians involved.
Armistice Day is this Thursday, November 11. Remembrance Sunday is on November 14.
Poem Explanation
The folding middle line appears at the top of the poem, with the two halves below it in a timeline, which is another first for the Folding Mirror form.
Vera, Pink Floyd, Doris
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