The Green Fields of France

Hey, it’s me again, and don’t worry, I’m still working on my “Superman” story, which is currently being postponed because of college, so I can’t really work on it. But I was listening to this song called “The Green Fields of France” by the Dropkick Murphys lately, and my muse has kicked in. The song is about someone who is touring a World War I cemetery and comes across a grave for one “Willie McBride” and asks all about him. The song sends a chill up my spine every time I hear it, so I decided to put the song down in a story. Enjoy. This is an anti-war story. Also has a political message.

Disclaimer: “Pokemon” is the intellectual property of Satoshi Tajiri, and the copyright in the United States is owned by Warner Bros.

“The Green Fields of France”, AKA “No Man’s Land” was written by Eric Bogle.

Ages:

Ash: 20

Misty: 20

Brock: 25

Ash Ketchum walked through the silent cemetery in Somme, France. The wind was blowing, and he had to wear a jacket because it was 50 degrees. His girlfriend, Misty Waterflower, and his friend Brock Harrison accompanied him. He had to hold on to his hat when a strong gust of wind almost blew his hat off.

“Sad, isn’t it?” asked Misty, who was holding his hand.

“Yeah,” he replied. “And for what? Colonialism?”

“But it’s sad that they died at such a young age, too.” She said, he red hair, which went down her back, blowing in the wind.

“You’re right. The young ones are always the ones to fight. They have their whole lives ahead of them, and in an instant it can be extinguished.” He replied.

“Places like this always make you wish there was no such thing as war.” Brock said.

“Pika.” Replied Pikachu, the last “a” trailing off sadly. Suddenly, he perked up and ran away.

“Pikachu? Where ya goin’?” Ash yelled at the electric mouse, running after it. Brock and Misty followed him. Soon, they came across a gravestone that Pikachu found.

“Pika.” He said, pointing at it. Misty looked at it and read,

“William McBride, Northern Irish Regiment of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. Born 1897, died 1916. So young, only 19.” She said. After reading it, she and Brock left. However, Ash continued to look at the gravestone.

“William McBride.” he said softly. Without thinking, he began to sing something. The words that came out of his mouth were haunting. He had heard the name before. He sang,

Oh, how do you do, young Willy McBride?

Do you mind if I sit here down by your graveside?

And rest for a while in the warm summer sun

I've been walking all day, and I'm nearly done

And I see by your gravestone you were only nineteen

When you joined the great fallen in 1916

Well I hope you died quick

And I hope you died clean

Or, Willy McBride, was it slow and obscene?

Misty overheard what he was singing. She asked him, “Ash, what is it?” She walked up to him and put her hand on his shoulder. He looked at her for a second, but kept singing. She looked at the grave again, putting her head on her boyfriend’s left shoulder and her left hand on his right as he sang,

Did they beat the drums slowly?

Did they play the fife lowly?

Did they sound the death march as they lowered you down?

Did the band play the last post and chorus?

Did the pipes play the flowers of the forest?

Brock came up to the two, but thinking they were having a romantic moment, he stepped away at first to give them some time, but then he heard Ash singing. He stopped and looked at the grave. Ash continued to sing.

And did you leave a wife or a sweetheart behind?

In some loyal heart is your memory enshrined?

And though you died back in 1916

To that loyal heart you're forever nineteen

Or are you a stranger without even a name?

Forever enshrined behind some old glass pane?

In an old photograph torn, tattered, and stained

And faded to yellow in a brown leather frame

Recognizing the song, Misty and Brock felt compelled to sing along with him in the chorus.

Did they beat the drums slowly?

Did they play the fife lowly?

Did they sound the death march as they lowered you down?

Did the band play the last post and chorus?

Did the pipes play the flowers of the forest?

The two stopped singing as Ash sang the third verse of the song. They started singing again when he sang the chorus again.

The sun's shining down on these green fields of France

The warm wind blows gently and the red poppies dance

The trenches have vanished long under the plow

No gas, no barbed wire, no guns firing now

But here in this graveyard that's still no man's land

The countless white crosses in mute witness stand

To man's blind indifference to his fellow man

And a whole generation were butchered and damned

Did they beat the drums slowly?

Did they play the fife lowly?

Did they sound the death march as they lowered you down?

Did the band play the last post and chorus?

Did the pipes play the flowers of the forest?

Misty, overcome with emotion, shed a single tear. She wiped it away. It was just so emotional. These were people who had died for almost no reason. She looked at Ash, and she saw that Ash had several tears running down his cheeks. The moment was just so powerful. He ignored the tears and continued to sing.

And I can't help but wonder, young Willy McBride

Do all those who lie here know why they died?

Did you really believe them when they told you the cause?

Did you really believe that this war would end wars?

Well the suffering, the sorrow, the glory, the shame

The killing and dying, it was all done in vain

Oh, Willy McBride, it all happened again

And again, and again, and again, and again

Seeing that Ash was crying yet not even breaking down, she let her tears come down in streams as she and Brock helped Ash sing the last chorus.

Did they beat the drums slowly?

Did they play the fife lowly?

Did they sound the death march as they lowered you down?

Did the band play the last post and chorus?

Did the pipes play the flowers of the forest?

After the song ended, Ash offered Misty a handkerchief. “I’m sorry.” She said, apologizing to him for seeming emotional.

“Don’t be.” He replied. “You saw how much I was crying, but did you see me break down? No. It’s natural to do so. And the song just brings tears to your eyes anyway.”

“It’s ironic that they called it ‘The War To End All Wars’, and yet there’s still war to day.” Brock said.

“Yeah. But that doesn’t mean we can’t try to change that.” Replied Ash. “Our generation can make this world better for everyone.” Ash embraced the still crying Misty. “Come on, let’s go.” He said, He put his arm around her waist and led her away from the grave. Not wanting to seem inconsiderate, he said to the gravestone, “Rest in peace, Willie.” Pikachu laid a flower at the grave and said a rosary before running off to its master. However, something compelled him to look back. He saw a figure of a man dressed in a British army uniform from the time period. Pikachu was transfixed.

“What’s wrong, Pikachu?” Misty asked. She and Ash looked back and saw the soldier. They stood there for what seemed like hours before the figure saluted them. Then it faded away. By now, Brock had gone ahead of them. He turned around and saw them.

“What is it?” He asked them. Startled, they turned around.

“Oh, um, nothing.” Replied Ash. Brock was skeptical, but he decided not to press the matter. Ash looked at his girlfriend. She asked him,

“Who do you think that was?” Ash could probably tell already.

“Willie,” he said. “He was probably thanking us for that little tribute.”

“He’s welcome.” She said. The two walked out of the cemetery, knowing that they will never forget this experience.

The end.

Well, how’d you like it? Please send me a review. If it made you cry, then my job’s done. And what is the political message? Remember the fallen. They’ve died for whatever cause it was, whether it’s protecting our freedoms or whatever, never forget them. The other message is that our generation can make this world a better place to live in. We’re the future of this planet, and it’s our job to set it right.