At The Cenotaph - Siegfried Sassoon
I saw the Prince of Darkness, with his Staff,
Standing bare-headed by the Cenotaph:
Unostentatious and respectful, there
He stood, and offered up the following prayer.
'Make them forget, O Lord, what this Memorial
Means; their discredited ideas revive;
Breed new belief that War is purgatorial
Proof of the pride and power of being alive;
Men's biologic urge to readjust
The Map of Europe, Lord of Hosts, increase;
Lift up their hearts in large destructive lust;
And crown their heads with blind vindictive Peace.'
The Prince of Darkness to the Cenotaph
Bowed. As he walked away I heard him laugh.
If death himself can be respectful by not wearing a hat I don't think it is beyond anyone else! While I enjoy all of the 'rebels' who will wear a woolen hat with a brim even if it is 35 degrees outside, I think it is ridiculous; I will respect a cultural tradition if it is important to someone - I wouldn't walk around a Mosque wearing shoes.