Waste

On 09/11/202508/11/2025 By Peter's ponderingIn bravery, broken things, courage, death, duty, Fact, horror, Poetry, Remembrance, war, waste18 Comments

Regular readers will remember that I have often reposted “The Last Remembrance” to commemorate Remembrance Sunday. Today, I am offering this simple but powerful poem instead.

I first discovered this poem in September 1968.

Waste of Muscle, waste of Brain,
Waste of Patience, waste of Pain,
Waste of Manhood, waste of Health,
Waste of Beauty, waste of Wealth,
Waste of Blood, and waste of Tears,
Waste of Youth’s most precious years,
Waste of ways the Saints have trod,
Waste of Glory, waste of God,– War!

It was written by Rev Geoffrey Studdert Kennedy, an amazing man. You can read about him here: (Woodbine Willy),

Thank you Ma’am

On 29/09/2022 By Peter's ponderingIn ageing, community, death, duty, elderly, Facts of life, getting older, heritage, history, Living well, Poetry, Remembrance, Royalty, Service, Thanks28 Comments

Details of the death certificate for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II were released today.

Let’s turn a new page

She died of old age

Is it terribly rude to speak so?

She willingly served

I was rather unnerved

when, at last, my Queen had to go.

I did not join the crowd

most of whom were quite proud

to go and pay homage in pain

Instead I stayed home

shed tears on my own

and gave thanks for her life and her reign.

Jamboree

On 31/07/2022 By Peter's ponderingIn acrostic, art, boys, community, creativity, dance, Difference, Diversity, duty, friends, fun, girls, harmony, Living well, Music, Poetry, scouting, Weekend Writing Prompt, Weekly prompts41 Comments

This is in response to Sammi Cox’s Weekend Writing Prompt #270 where the given word is JAMBOREE and the word count is 86.

It’s Just a jolly jamboree, all are having fun

It’s Artful antics filled with glee, children leap and run

It’s Music, dancing, all dressed up, singing songs aloud

It’s Boys and girls and young adults feeling rather proud

It’s Often far from home they are, come from far off places

It’s Reaching out and sharing tales and seeing brand new faces

It’s Each who says it’s been great fun and joins in all the shouting

It’s Everyone who greets you there who’s part of worldwide scouting

Peter’s Pondering Pipes #21

On 14/07/2022 By Peter's ponderingIn #Peter's Pondering Pipes, Army, duty, family, Music, Pipes, Service28 Comments

This is part of a series. Previous posts can be found by clicking on #PETER’S PONDERING PIPES.

For those who were not here for the start of this occasional series the first post can be seen here. I think it’s fun!

Today, I’d like to introduce you to some fabulous soldiers, small in stature but great in spirit and service. Family means a great deal to them, so much so that they are willing to leave their extended families for long periods in order to cater for their needs now, and in the future. The Gurkhas were first formally recruited into the British Indian Army in 1815 and proudly serve to this day in the Nepali Army, The Indian Army, The British Army, and in Singapore and Brunei.

Here you can see the Gurkha’s pipes and drums leading the return from afghanisthan in November 2011.

Political Pondering on Privilege | Peter Matthews — Whispers and Echoes

On 13/06/2022 By Peter's ponderingIn accountability, clowns, community, creativity, duty, health, Living well, morals, Poetry, politics, privilege, Re posts25 Comments

I bet you can’t guess who I had in mind when I wrote this poem, the latest to be published on Whispers and Echoes. Click on the link below to read the full poem.

Is he cute, is he clever, is he good or is he bad Is he fortunate in having all the health and wealth he had Is he ever really thankful is he ever really glad Or does he just accept it as his right . Does he not appreciate good fortune all the while Does […]
Political Pondering on Privilege | Peter Matthews — Whispers and Echoes