Gentle Clapping Found Erased in a Wood - V3

[FranktheFrank]

Found Erasure Poem

The American 5th Infantry Division, advancing just to the right
of Roberts' division, had begun to be squeezed into a narrow
sector when Roberts seized the opportunity offered by the
capture of 'Dickie's Bridge'. Like the British they too had
encountered difficult hilly country and woods. It was a
curious advance, with bouts of intense fighting, then moments
of uneasy calm. The commander of one company described
a strange experience as he advanced along a forest track.
'The woods seemed to cast an eerie spell over us as though
we were the subjects of a fairy enchantment,' he wrote. He
and his men suddenly heard a soft, gentle clapping.'
As we came closer we could see the shadowy forms of
French men, women, and children, lining the pathway, not
talking, some crying softly, but most just gently clapping,
extending for several hundred feet on both sides of the road.
A little girl came alongside me. She was blond, pretty and
maybe all of five years old. She trustingly put her hand in
mine and walked a short way with me, then stopped and
waved until we were out of sight.' Even fifty years later
he could still hear the sound of soft clapping in a wood.

Anthony Beevor, D-Day (The Battle for Normandy)
Brittany and Operation Bluecoat p. 389


https://i.pinimg.com/736x/f4/a3/71/f4a3 ... b0dbd6.jpg



******

Original title: Erased Clapping Found in a Wood
V2 title - Gentle Clapping

[BobBradshaw]

This is so unexpected: the clapping, the children, the tenderness... just lovely

[FranktheFrank]

Thanks Bob
Strange I found it in a war book
but I was so taken with the prose
it had to become an erasure found poem

[Bernie01]

Frank----


great find, but most of all how to present this scene in a modern context. rich, touching and memorable. great job.



bernie

[FranktheFrank]

Thank you Bernie very much.

Don't forget your acceptance message
in Palaver Bernie, you have been
nominated and seconded.

[IndianaDP]

Great find Frank, nicely extracted.

[FranktheFrank]

It was a curious advance.
Fifty years later he could still hear the sound
of soft clapping in a wood.

[Michael (MV)]

 
Hi Frank

as is presented initially - no need to present the extracted in its own space.

It is a creative experience to see & feel it surface from the text in which it had been confined,
until you, the conduit, found & freed it.


Consider the lighter italics instead of the bold; and the font enlarged not as much; for example:

encountered difficult hilly country and wood[lands]. It was a
curious advance, with bouts of intense fighting, then moments
of uneasy calm. The commander of one company described
a strange experience as they advanced along a forest track.

^^ shown in a 115 font  

^^ then the reader engages in the experience while extrapolating the spectral text.


Wonderful to experience this here this evening after a weary Munday

Thanks, Frank



Michael (MV)


 
 
 
 
 
 

[FranktheFrank]

Thank you Michael
glad you enjoyed.

I have modified,
am very pleased with the result,
looks much better.

Pity I can't soften the unwanted text,
i.e. to pick a shade lighter.

Have added a photo.

I should add that Dale's recent erasure/extraction
poems have encouraged me to try this form.

[FranktheFrank]

Title edited

[Kenneth2816]

I think it encapsulates how bizarre war can be

[FranktheFrank]

Changed Title