Poem - The Charge Of The Light Brigade - Alfred Lord Tennyson

Hello,

For once I actually don't feel like putting music on here, but I really want to put a poem on.

I would love to say that I first heard of it whilst in the midst of serious academic study, but that'd be a lie. It was whilst watching the very moving film 'The Blindside'.
It was then that I first saw how deeply sad but beautiful this poem is. Kathy Bates reads it in the film, whilst playing a tutor and even though I can only put it on here to be read, it really has more impact when said out loud. (It is very long but you won't be disappointed if you read it all).

1. Half a league, half a league,  Half a league onward, All in the valley of Death  Rode the six hundred. "Forward, the Light Brigade! "Charge for the guns!" he said: Into the valley of Death  Rode the six hundred. 2. "Forward, the Light Brigade!" Was there a man dismay'd? Not tho' the soldier knew  Someone had blunder'd: Theirs not to make reply, Theirs not to reason why, Theirs but to do and die: Into the valley of Death  Rode the six hundred. 3. Cannon to right of them, Cannon to left of them, Cannon in front of them  Volley'd and thunder'd; Storm'd at with shot and shell, Boldly they rode and well, Into the jaws of Death, Into the mouth of Hell  Rode the six hundred. 4. Flash'd all their sabres bare, Flash'd as they turn'd in air, Sabring the gunners there, Charging an army, while  All the world wonder'd: Plunged in the battery-smoke Right thro' the line they broke; Cossack and Russian Reel'd from the sabre stroke  Shatter'd and sunder'd. Then they rode back, but not  Not the six hundred. 5. Cannon to right of them, Cannon to left of them, Cannon behind them  Volley'd and thunder'd; Storm'd at with shot and shell, While horse and hero fell, They that had fought so well Came thro' the jaws of Death Back from the mouth of Hell, All that was left of them,  Left of six hundred. 6. When can their glory fade? O the wild charge they made!  All the world wondered. Honor the charge they made, Honor the Light Brigade,  Noble six hundred.

I know It's a poem many people are already quite familiar with, as it's so incredibly famous. It was written in 1854 about the battle of the Balaclava in the Crimean War and is considered to be a classic. I even once read somewhere that it was on the top ten list of poems people learn off by heart at school. I can only ask HOW?!

It's so long!

But hats off to you, it's brilliant. 

In case you're unfamiliar with the story, it's all about the army (of '600') following the orders of their Commander/Sergant General. It's said that the disaster that left many dead in the 'charge', was due to a bad decision strategically speaking. The army, although realising this, still obeyed the order out of respect and loyalty to their commander. 

When I read Tennyson's words I can feel the mix of fear and absolute loyalty, that I'm sure he would've wanted to portray. 

Hope you've enjoyed reading it as much as I did,

Molly x