Thursday 8 October 2009

"Toutes larmes de leurs yeux".

Tired after the stress of the early start and irritated by the endless stream of trucks heading out of Rome along the autostrada I drove across the back roads into Umbria - the landscape by now sun drenched and pleasant - the blue sky cloudless. Past Bolsena with its lake and cathedral the road climbs steeply upwards merging into the high ridge that carries on to Orvieto. At the brow of the hill a pair of limestone gate piers, well kept and unweathered, somehow familiar but out of place here. A parking spot offering an excuse to briefly breathe fresh, unfreoned air. From the gate a gravel path pointing through thick stands of dark green holm oaks,tall leafy acacias,faded wild irises and bee swarmed gentians towards another set of piers and a small bronze gate, three feet high, the upper edge burnished with use.

Beyond, the view widens - the lake in front, fields of golden autumn wheat on either side, ahead and above a glimpse of the purple mountains of Tuscany - a tranquil scene of sweet,gentle,timeless grace. And then the shock. On the slopes below, invisible at first,five hundred,maybe more, identical purbeck tombstones in parade formation. The hidden,almost forgotten,resting place of Dominion boys fallen along the isobars of their advance.

Whoever chose this untroubled spot must have grieved like a father for each of these young South Africans,New Zealanders,Australians,Canadians and Scots. No human hand alone could have set these stones here with an intimacy as real as wandering into a gathering of close friends. A place so secret that the sheltering forest seems to wrap its arms around its ever sleeping charges denying access to winter storms and summer squalls. Ranks of eighteen and nineteen year olds, the brief carved outlines of their lives: - birthdate,nationality,regiment,date of death, age - sometimes a couplet from a non-conformist hymn or a line that honors the name with thin substance 'loving father,dutiful son'. Flesh condensed to stone, unquantifiable mothers grief expressed in no more than sixteen words.

Few now find their way to this scented place, their generation gone and the road beckoning to brighter,happier destinations. A Quebecois, clearly moved,had written in the visitors book the simple comforting line " et Dieu essuiera toutes larmes de leurs yeux". I'd like to think so, and the rest too - "neither sorrow,nor crying,neither shall there be any more pain". Italy should be a destination of happiness and joy so I won't go back to this place; but I'll remember it as hallowed ground, an achingly majestic spot where the veil between the worlds is worn yieldingly thin. As I left to climb the hill the acacias rustled lightly in an absent breeze as if berating me for my lack of manners. I closed the gate,turned and said out loud, where no one but these resting sons could possibly have heard my voice, 'thank you'.

Wilf and Digby played half heartedly when I got home and then sat by the gate looking up the hill waiting patiently for the 'font'.

7 comments:

Maxmom said...

WOW...the waters run deep!!!
My daughter, after a school visit to Italy told me about her experience of that place... At the tender age of 17, she was also clearly moved. The teacher who went along with them had a family member who was buried there too. She says that her whole group simply fell into silence.
(Do stress and creativity go hand in hand, for you? That is quite some writing!...I want to say....ouch!)
MAX'S MOM IN SA

Angus said...

Max - How amazing that your daughter should have been there. I hadn't realised that so many South Africans and New Zealanders had fought in Italy. The majority of the graves were from those two countries. Yes, I can believe that the group fell into silence - the spot is where two worlds collide - a bit like someone running a feather over the back of your neck.
Stress - no, the Celt in me - probably.

Rocky Creek Scotties and Rocky Creek Ramblings said...

I was wondering the same - is it the stress or the Celt? - it is a fantastic, touching post.

Lynn

Rocky Creek Scotties and Rocky Creek Ramblings said...

Forgot to add - I'll be happy to adopt your boys any day.

L

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

I felt as if I were there with you. It must be a remarkable experience to stand there.

To answer your book question...it was Margaret Ann Barens who wrote Murder in Coweta County. Ferrol Samms wrote Run With the Horsemen. I do think you would like The Help.

So happy to hear that Wilf was simply tired, and not sick! Edward and Apple are joining us today for a trip to the mountains for pumpkins. Orange ones, white ones, green Cinderella ones!! An annual event that we all enjoy!

Whispering Walls said...

Very moving, Angus and, yes, beautiful prose.

Fi from Four Paws and Whiskers said...

That was beautiful - thank you.
Reassuring that they are not forgotten, even though they died so far from home and so young...
although not sure any of it would help me if I was one of their mothers...
I think you will miss Italy. Will be interesting to follow your next journey.