poetry

5 articles

Oct6

1989Who was known to have taken illegal photographs capturing front line experiences during the Great War?

Brenton Harold "Jack" Turner of Prince Edward Island, Canada, was one of the few who secretly photographed daily life and combat on the Western Front during the First World War, in direct defiance of military bans. Turner's surreptitious collection of 99 images, captured with a smuggled German-made camera, offers a rare and personal glimpse into a soldier’s experience away from the official lens. Ingeniously modifying his uniform to conceal his camera, Turner developed his photos in battlefield cellars, preserving moments that would have otherwise been lost to history. Today, his unique legacy lives on through exhibitions, like the 2015 "Snapshots of Armageddon" in Charlottetown, and his century-long life serves as a testament to the enduring power of personal perspective in the record of war.

Dec8

1915What inspired the most beloved and famous of all war poems?

At a front line dressing station near Ypres, Belgium, Canadian Army doctor Major John McCrae penned the enduring war poem "In Flanders Fields" on 3 May 1915. Written in the immediate aftermath of the Second Battle of Ypres, as deadly chlorine gas and relentless artillery claimed thousands of lives, the poem gave voice to the grief and resilience felt by soldiers and medics alike. Inspired by the death of his friend Lieutenant Alexis Helmer and the sight of wild poppies blooming among war graves, McCrae composed the fifteen lines in just twenty minutes while perched on an ambulance tailgate. Although nearly discarded by its creator, "In Flanders Fields" quickly became a powerful symbol of remembrance for generations to come, immortalizing both the sacrifices of war and the enduring image of the poppy.

May3

1915What is "In Flanders Fields"?

In Flanders Fields" is the world-renowned war memorial poem written by Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae while serving with the Canadian Army Medical Corps in Belgium. Composed on May 3, 1915, amid the devastation of the Second Battle of Ypres, the poem has become a symbol of remembrance for soldiers who died in conflict. A commemorative panel in Georgetown, Prince Edward Island, features the full text of McCrae’s poem, connecting this small Canadian community to the global legacy of remembrance.

Jan19

1809Why did it take more than 160 years for Edgar Allan Poe to be commemorated in his native city of Boston?

Edgar Allan Poe, the legendary master of macabre fiction, was born in Boston in 1809 but spent much of his life in contentious conflict with the city and its literary elite. Despite his global fame and undeniable impact on literature with works like "The Raven" and "The Tell-Tale Heart," Poe was not officially commemorated in his birthplace until October 5, 2014. That day, a striking life-sized statue by Stefanie Rocknak was unveiled in Edgar Allan Poe Square, more than 160 years after his death, featuring iconic details like a bronze raven and engraved pages trailing from Poe’s suitcase. The monument poignantly reflects Poe’s complicated legacy in Boston, making it a must-see for visitors interested in American literary history.

Apr19

1775What was the "shot heard round the world"?

The phrase "shot heard round the world" famously comes from Ralph Waldo Emerson’s "Concord Hymn," commemorating the events at Concord, Massachusetts, on April 19, 1775, where the first American victory of the Revolutionary War took place. Although the day's initial shots rang out earlier in Lexington, it was at Concord’s North Bridge that colonial militiamen first returned British fire, signaling a turning point in the fight for independence. This conflict has inspired monuments such as the North Bridge obelisk dedicated in 1837 and Daniel Chester French’s iconic "Minute Man" statue, unveiled a century later in 1875 from melted Civil War cannons. Today, the legacy of these pivotal moments is celebrated each April during Massachusetts’ Patriots’ Day festivities, honoring both the struggle and the stories that shaped a nation.