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The Unknown Soldier's Prayer
The Unknown Soldier’s Prayer
I could be your husband, father, son.
The lost bones of another pointless war.
A flag to drape across my resting place,
transported from a distant, hostile shore.
I could have been a tinker, tailor, thief ,
lying here for a century and more,
those passing trades mean little to me - now
the angry guns have relinquished their roar.
...
Wednesday 11th November 2020 3:49 pm
The Next War Is Here
The Next War Is Here
Out there, we walked quite friendly up to death,
Sat down and ate beside him, cool and bland,
Asked of his health and shook him by the hand.
Recoiled in horror at his fetid breath.
Before the world went crazy, he was there,
We treated him as though he was a fly
Who we could swat away - and never die.
We were invincible, without a care.
Now ...
Wednesday 8th April 2020 12:47 pm
Son Of My Father
Son Of My Father
What did you do in the war dad?
I fought against Fascists, son.
And were you frightened there dad?
Did you want to turn around and run?
Yes, I was frightened there son
So, don’t believe the lies that are spun
About the death and the glory of war, boy.
There is death, but of glory there’s none.
Thanks for all that you did dad
A...
Friday 28th February 2020 12:07 am
In Other News
In Other News
In other news
The forests burned
Ice caps melted
No one learned
We all stopped listening
To each other
But continued shouting
At one another
Threw our plastics
In the sea
Gorged ourselves
On misery
Refused to let
Our neighbours in
Treated losses
As a win
Praised the rich
And damned the poor
Pissed against
Austerity’s do...
Sunday 5th January 2020 12:37 am
Old Men's Tears
Old Men’s Tears
With hearts as heavy as thunder clouds
What once were torrents
Are now just trickles
Reflecting our futures
In the silver shimmer of our past
And they come
In stumbling honour
And their humility
Denies them as heroes
For the heroes were left behind
In voices cracked with age
They tell their tales
Of simple duty
In the face of...
Friday 7th June 2019 12:37 am
Soldier's Box
Soldier’s Box
Wooden box
Lock
Key
Brass bullet casing
Spent
Flakes of tobacco
Unsmoked
Grains of sand
Sepia tinted photograph
Pyramids
And pith helmets
Soldiers Service
And Pay book
Will unwritten
Will not needed
Nib encrusted
Fountain pen
Brass button
Coloured ribbon
Yellowed letters
Ink a faded blue
S...
Monday 27th February 2017 5:04 pm
The Bayonet In The Shed
The Bayonet In The Shed
He put it there in forty nine,
in a woodworm riddled drawer,
wrapped it in a greasy rag.
A remnant from the war.
On top of it he laid his medals,
nothing more was said
until the day my father
took the bayonet from the shed.
We had pestered many times
and he had said ‘perhaps’
when we asked him if he’d killed
any Krauts or any Ja...
Monday 16th May 2016 12:24 pm
Catechism
Catechism
I will not be defined by ancient Gods,
or the archaic teachings in their books.
I will tread warily around their words
and avoid the hidden traps and snaring hooks.
I will not stand behind a coloured flag
and spout my blunt imperialistic views
or drape it on a coffin when I die
or burn it on the early evening news.
I will not make a choice that’s...
Thursday 24th March 2016 1:58 pm
An Angel Bathes In Tears
An Angel Bathes In Tears
Diniel rested for a second
and turned his eyes away
from those that he was caring for
and in that moment all was lost.
Now he bathes in the cascades
of acidic human tears
that flood the world with grief.
Erosive and corrosive
at the passing of infant souls
in a war that has no meaning
in a world that has no morals.
Now his dainty angel features
disappear unt...
Friday 25th July 2014 2:30 pm
Grandchildren Of The Somme
Grandchildren Of The Somme
the dead lay on the injured earth
all wearing grey death masks of mud
a tally of what life is worth
just bone and sinew flesh and blood
attrition wrought its deadly cost
the river Somme held back its flood
humanity forever lost
just bone and sinew flesh and blood
sixteen miles wide and just six deep
survivors wondered if they could
block out the dreams t...
Saturday 19th April 2014 3:38 pm
Damocles
Damocles
the striking serpent
in my left
hisses and spits
Assssssad
the rabid wolf
in my right
froths and foams
for freedom
and either of these
sly predators
could have delivered
the fatal bite
that caused parents
and children
to weep blister
burn and die
a black man
with skin of grey
and eyes bloodshot
...
Monday 9th September 2013 4:13 pm
warRANT
warRANT
the ack-ack-ack
of sobbing children
a tear
for every bullet
the roll of pressure
heal to toe
erasing limbs
flies swarming on open wounds
picking at the scabs
of wounded families
the searing pain
of widows and orphans
scorched flesh
hurt is local currency
guns from foreign currency
a...
Friday 19th April 2013 1:05 pm
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