What church-bells or calls to prayer by the muezzin
For all these young men who kill themselves?
— Only the monstrous hypocrisy of the media
--- Only the slurp, slurp, slurp as we all become greedier.

Call attention to this national blood-loss of young lives
No mockeries now for them from politicians who do not care
If these young men are 'fit for purpose', common or rare? 
Only the voices of the mothers whose sons are no longer there —
Only black and white boys' photographs and quiet, unspoken prayers;

 Recall the lives of those who were repelled by the living nightmare
Of modernity and money. No candles now for the loss of these young lives
Look into their eyes as they pass you by

And you will see the holy glimmer of goodbyes
As sure as suicide in the trenches did a hundred years ago.
And we must learn to value our rough young men again
As much as we did the sacrifices of their great-grandfathers.