Battle Song
David and Lisa were near the city of Ratisbon
They had been exploring the area for a few hours
David was carrying a paperback book detailing all of Napoleon’s battles whilst Lisa was carrying a slim volume of poetry by Robert Browning
Do you realise that Napoleon stood on one of these mounds and watched the progress of the battle
I would have thought he would have been on horseback
Thank you for correcting me he was on horseback
What was noticeable about the area where the husband and wife stood was that it was covered deeply with red buttercups
Yellow buttercups covered the nearby fields but the mounds were covered by the vivid red buttercups
Why are the buttercups in this area red whereas they are their normal yellow elsewhere?
The answer is in your book
Explain
It is described in one of Mr Browning’s poems
Which one?
Incident of the French Camp
I believe that is the title of the work
Lisa sat down and looked through her book of poems
I cannot find the poem in my book
Then I shall tell you the story of why the buttercups here are red and the others are yellow
It all started with a boy soldier who was in the employ of Napoleon’s army there were many and this lad was no different
He was not far out of boyhood but joined up I suppose in pursuit of adventure and glory at the emperor’s side
Well it was as he planted the Imperial flag within the walls of the besieged city that he received a mortal wound
He saw his emperor on a mound such as this watching the battle and like the boy the emperor had been wounded although not as seriously
Indeed the emperors wound was trite an injury to his right foot
But the boy did not to know this and he with a supreme effort mounted a horse and galloped towards Napoleon
Although the boy was dying he dismounted and stood in front of his beloved emperor gripping the mane of the horse to steady himself
The boy announced the victory
Napoleon was greatly impressed by the courage of the dying boy who although in great pain showed no signs of his distress
You are wounded lad
The concern of his emperor touched the boy and his remaining strength began to ebb
I am killed Sire
These were the boy soldier’s final words and with a smile on his face he fell dead at the emperor’s feet
Although many on both sides died on that terrible day Napoleon was greatly moved by the boy’s death and ordered him buried where he fell
So the boy soldier is buried in this area
Yes we might even be standing above his final resting place
How sad but how does this relate to the differing colours of the buttercups in the area
Well as I said Napoleon had received a slight would and the emperor noticed that the blood he had spilled was mingling with that of the boy soldier
We are joined a humble boy soldier and his emperor
Touch the red buttercups Lisa what do you feel
My hands have become sticky and stained red
Is your dress stained?
With a moment of feminine concern Lisa stood up and inspected her light dress
She found no stains
Do not worry the stains will fade when mixed with water and will not soil your clothing
But why?
I do not know maybe it was the emperor’s final command that only the hands if in contact with the flowers would exhibit the blood of the boy soldier and his beloved emperor
That is one of the mysteries of this area
Napoleon fought many battles but the red buttercups only appear here
David handed a bottle of pure water to his wife and she began pouring it over her hands
The stains diluted and vanished almost immediately
Lisa again ran her fingers through the petals of the red buttercups again
They became stained once more
She ran her fingers along the hem of her summers dress
It remained pristine
She touched the cover of her poetry book
See it remains only on your hands until you wash it off
It reminds me of the Blood of Christ
Christ died violently on the cross and many men died it the city that day
Maybe Christ wept and his tears stained the buttercups
We will never know
Davis took his wife’s unsoiled hand and helped her down the shallow mound
He smiled as the boy soldier had once done
I think it is now time for us to return to the city
It is peaceful now
Sadness and Flowers
Some months are tinged with sadness
They are easily recognised
As happiness seems so far away
But as you look into your morning garden
She is there and shares her space
With the vivid flowers
And waits patiently
For you to open your eyes
Marie Lou Salazar (1946-1973)
Translated from the Spanish by the author
The Bath Fish
You may live in the River Avon
And remain hidden from view
But I know you are watching
And are waiting for the day
When you can emerge from the waters
And replace us in God’s affections