After the War is Over : The Little Letter Series.
Delights of the Ordinary No. 66. Season 3.
#TheLittleLetters is my series where I send you tiny letters of little learnings as opposed to long-form essays. They may help you gear back or throttle up, whatever the case may be, I promise they will be positively wise.
At Fujita’s memorial service, I read from Second Timothy: “I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith.”
- Redeployment by Phil Klay
Around two weeks back, we as a nation, were caught up in some high-voltage war threat. Our neighbouring country and we were pinging bullets, thundering artillery and dispatching drones into each other’s territories. A fierce fight, with the dooming dread of turning into a full-blown war!
Thank Heavens, after three days, a ceasefire treaty was announced.
And hence, I hope, far from all such strifes, at the very least, your weeks were rejuvenating and restorative. Especially when half the world is wheeling and dealing with financial or political combats, it can become demanding on our spirits.
That is why, when I write my little letters to you, I cross my fingers in the very hope that these letters will be like a fine cradlesong to your ears. Some poetic praises for your mild hearts. Some peace treaty to your minds. Some inspiration that we don’t need wars of weapons, or of words, or wars between the hearts!
But even then, if you still feel you are pulled into a vortex of despair and emotional fluff floating through your senses, please don’t feel guilty. It is perfectly normal - even in less serious circumstances. We burn out in our customary 5-day cubicle life, in meeting our ROI’s, in calculating financial uncertainties, and all of it exhibits in physical, emotional and spiritual exhaustion. And on top of it, the unsettling world with wars is never easy!
In the future we shall have only “world wars” — that much is already clear.
Henry Miller
So, how does one handle it?
Famous poet and diarist Mary Sarton (1912 - 1995) wrote, “Hatred rather than love dominates. How does one handle it? The greatest danger, as I see it in myself, is the danger of withdrawal into private worlds. We have to keep the channels in ourselves open to pain. At the same time it is essential that true joys be experienced, that the sunrise not leave us unmoved, for civilization depends on the true joys, all those that have nothing to do with money or affluence — nature, the arts, human love. Maybe that is why the pandas in the London Zoo brought me back to poetry for the first time in two years.”
And, just if you are finding yourself in some sort of exhaustive limbo, take time to push yourself towards things that are sunnier, brighter and cloudless or even cuter like the pandas! Because it is such a delight to discover people like you who are still ready to read rather than doom scroll in numbness. People who wish to retain the strength to think and feel, who are flapping their wings so as to outgrow the pungency of modern life!
To be precise, just be easy and patient with yourself. This world needs compassion warriors like you, so take time to refuel your arms so you can go back to fighting a good fight.
And now a joyous story from the battlefield of World War I.
It was the winter of 1914, and British and German troops were fighting on the Western Front in World War I. They were almost five months into this war. And then on Christmas Eve, both sides chose to put down their guns so they could greet each other for Christmas, sing carols, play football, smoke cigars, exchange gifts and even bury the dead of the war. “On the evening of December 24th, the first day of the truce, Captain ‘Jack’ Armes of the 1st Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment wrote to his wife and described this incredible occurrence.”
Here’s the letter of Captain Jack Armes to his wife from his battle trench.
24/12/14
I have just been through one of the most extraordinary scenes imaginable. To-night is Xmas Eve and I came up into the trenches this evening for my tour of duty in them. Firing was going on all the time and the enemy’s machine guns were at it hard, firing at us. Then about seven the firing stopped.
I was in my dug-out reading a paper and the mail was being dished out. It was reported that the Germans had lighted their trenches up all along our front. We had been calling to one another for some time Xmas wishes and other things. I went out and they shouted “no shooting” and then somehow the scene became a peaceful one. All our men got out of their trenches and sat on the parapet, the Germans did the same, and they talked to one another in English and broken English. I got on top of the trench and talked German and asked them to sing a German Volkslied, which they did, then our men sang quite well and each side clapped and cheered the other.
I asked a German who sang a solo to sing one of Schumann’s songs, so he sang The Two Grenadiers splendidly. Our men were a good audience and really enjoyed his singing.
Then Pope and I walked across and held a conversation with the German officer in command.
One of his men introduced us properly, he asked my name and then presented me to his officer. I gave the latter permission to bury some German dead who are lying in between us, and we agreed to have no shooting until 12 midnight to-morrow. We talked together, 10 or more Germans gathered round. I was almost in their lines within a yard or so. We saluted each other, he thanked me for permission to bury his dead, and we fixed up how many men were to do it, and that otherwise both sides must remain in their trenches.
Then we wished one another goodnight and a good night’s rest, and a happy Xmas and parted with a salute. I got back to the trench. The Germans sang Die Wacht Am Rhein it sounded well. Then our men sang quite well Christians Awake, it sounded so well, and with a goodnight we all got back into our trenches. It was a curious scene, a lovely moonlit night, the German trenches with small lights on them, and the men on both sides gathered in groups on the parapets.
At times we heard the guns in the distance and an occasional rifle shot. I can hear them now, but about us is absolute quiet. I allowed one or two men to go out and meet a German or two half way. They exchanged cigars, a smoke and talked. The officer I spoke to hopes we shall do the same on New Year’s Day, I said “yes, if I am here”. I felt I must sit down and write the story of this Xmas Eve before I went to lie down. Of course no precautions are relaxed, but I think they mean to play the game. All the same, I think I shall be awake all night so as to be on the safe side. It is weird to think that to-morrow night we shall be at it hard again. If one gets through this show it will be an Xmas time to live in one’s memory. The German who sang had a really fine voice.
Am just off for a walk around the trenches to see all is well. Goodnight.
Xmas Day.
…This morning at the Reveille the Germans sent out parties to bury their dead. Our men went out to help, and then we all on both sides met in the middle, and in groups began to talk and exchange gifts of tobacco, etc… The whole thing is extraordinary. The men were all so natural and friendly. Several photos were taken, a group of German officers, a German officer and myself, and a group of British and German soldiers.
The Germans are Saxons, a good looking lot, only wishing for peace in a manly way, and they seem in no way at their last gasp. I was astonished at the easy way in which our men and theirs got on with each other.
We have just knocked off for dinner, and have arranged to meet again afterwards until dusk when we go in again and have [illegible] until 9pm, when War begins again. I wonder who will start the shooting! They say “Fire in the air and we will”, and such things, but of course it will start and tomorrow we shall be at it hard killing one another. It is an extraordinary state of affairs which allows of a “Peace Day”. I have never seen men so pleased to have a day off as both sides…
Well must finish now so as to get this off to-day. Have just finished dinner. Pork chop. Plum pudding. Mince pies. Ginger, and bottle of Wine and a cigar, and have drunk to all at home and especially to you my darling one. Must go outside now to supervise the meetings of the men and the Germans.
Will try and write more in a day or two. Keep this letter carefully and send copies to all. I think they will be interested. It did feel funny walking over alone towards the enemy’s trenches to meet someone half-way, and then to arrange a Xmas peace. It will be a thing to remember all one’s life.
Kiss the babies and give them my love. Write me a long letter and tell me all the news. I hope the photos come out all-right. Probably you will see them in some paper.
Yours, Jake
(To read the full letter, click here.)
I had at least thought there would be nobility in war. I know it exists. There are so many stories, and some of them have to be true. But I see mostly normal men, trying to do good, beaten down by horror, by their inability to quell their own rages, by their masculine posturing and their so-called hardness, their desire to be tougher, and therefore crueler, than their circumstances.
- Redeployment by Phil Klay
I will write to you soon, till then, stay fabulous and forgiving to yourself and others,
- Anugrah
Who am I?
Hi, I am Anugrah. I write different series on Delights of the Ordinary for us who are trapped in the world of hustle culture but are quiet at heart with an itching creative bone and love for life. My newsletter intersects culture, art, and inner health in our practical 9-5 job space. You can know more about me here and here.
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