A Day At The Beach

Training. 

Remember your training!

When the bow ramp drops, charge!

Pull the bolt back, forward, & aim

Pull the trigger, make your enemy quiver!

 

Stop shaking! 

It's just a day at the beach!

There's vomit on me uniform. Is it mine?

Might be Bill's next to me. He's seasick 

Pull the bolt back, forward, & aim

Pull the trigger, make your enemy quiver!

 

Mam's birthday! June 6th. How could I forget! 

I should've wrote before we left.

I'll be gettin’ wrong when I get back!

Why didn't you write, so I knew you were alright?

 

Vomit. Vomit.  

Aw, it's me. Sorry Bill

It's OK lad, we're all wearing our breakfast!

Sea’s getting choppy. Must be close…

Pull the bolt back, forward, & aim

Pull the trigger, make your enemy quiver!

 

Prepare yourselves lads!

Aye, Sarge!

Just a day at the beach! Happy Birthday, Mam. Training. Training 

Pull the bolt back, forward, & aim

Pull the trigger, make your enemy quiver!

 

Shaking. Stop shaking!

Just stay beside me lad.

OK Bill.

The bow ramp's halfway down

Training!

Pull the er…thingy back, forward, & aim

Pull the trigger, make your enemy quiver!

 

Out! Out! Out!

Aye, Sarge! 

The water’s bloody freezin’! What's that noise?

Ratataatatatatatat…

Come on lad! OK Bill. Happy birthday, Mam. Just a day at the- Oh, god!

Training! Remember training!

Pull the trigger, aim, bolt forward….

Ratatatatatatatatat…

Bill! You've got blood on your face!

Bill! Oh, Jesus! Oh, god!

Pull the quiver, let them trigger.. Aim

            Men & boys lying lame

Where's me rifle? Sarge, I've lost…

Ratatatatatatatataatatatat…

Mam! Mam! I mean Sarge! I've lost-

           I'm lost! I'm lost!

I've made it to the beach! I'm on the bea-

 

It's gone quiet. 

I can taste the sand. Why's it red?

Turning red

           Almost dead. Almost dead

Something about training, I think…

Pull the bolt…Bill, Where's Bill?

Mams Birthday! Happy Birthday, Mam!

Wonder if she made a cake?

 

Aw, aye, she has!

 

 

🌷(8)

Remembrancelest we forget

◄ Remember Me

Unseen ►

Comments

Profile image

Stephen Atkinson

Wed 13th Nov 2024 22:38

Thanks Uilleam, I took it as a compliment. 🤗 And thank you, master war poet, Stephen G!

Profile image

Stephen Gospage

Wed 13th Nov 2024 17:00

Well done, Stephen. This poem really affects you, as Uilleam says.

Profile image

Uilleam Ó Ceallaigh

Wed 13th Nov 2024 09:59

I did mean that as a complement Stephen!

Like many of us, I've shed tears over the news of various tragedies, and I don't take kindly to being lectured at by attention-seeking pompous pricks of politicians / celebrities about my not being "silent" and "respectful" enough.

Profile image

Stephen Atkinson

Tue 12th Nov 2024 22:23

Sorry about that, Uilleam! I'll do a happy one next time!
And thanks for the likes everyone 🌷

Profile image

Uilleam Ó Ceallaigh

Tue 12th Nov 2024 08:29

It's barely eight-thirty am, and I've got tears in my eyes.

If you wish to post a comment you must login.

This site uses only functional cookies that are essential to the operation of the site. We do not use cookies related to advertising or tracking. By continuing to browse, you are agreeing to our use of cookies.

Find out more Hide this message