I've had a long life and at eighty five
thankful still...to be alive
I gaze in the flames recalling when 
impatient for Santa...aged just ten. 
Dad carried up presents...in stockinged feet
treading loose floorboards...made ominous creak
 toys placed carefully...on to our bed
Mechano...lead soldiers...books to be read.

 long empty months until Christmas
 had climaxed to joyous peaks.
  Now the years...pass by so quickly.
 like it's here...every six fucking weeks.

 life has evolved from "not quite to boring"
most of my hours spent...sleeping and snoring.
 Vivid with statin hyped dreams.
I'm back in the Army stood to attention
listening to language I'd rather not mention.
Five a side football in the School team
Victoria Baths, so cold I could scream

 Wounded soldiers from Broughton House
Sit in wheelchairs at the Church dance
by the looks on their faces...with half a chance
they'd sooner be fighting 
 somewhere back in France

During a tango one turns to his mate
whispering...what a way to recuperate
I'd sooner be blancoing kit in the hut.
Mate answers, 
"shouldn't have shot yourself in the foot"

Me and my friends in the Church Lads Brigade
shiny buckles...creased trousers...badges...and braid.
 drums a beating...bugles blowing
what a stirring sight we made.

Hungover Verger...tolls single bell
the sonorous...single...repetative knell
is a prelude to parables...on how to avoid
 the slippery slope to Hell

Though times were hard and uncertain
our attendance was loyal and perpetual
comparing our Vicar to these modern times
and thinking back to his base designs.
  At least he was "hetrosexual"

That apart he was...a kindly man, 
with always a friendly greeting 
in particular...for soldiers wives, 
at Mothers Union meetings. 
 
On hearing accounts of nervous distress
 lonely days...anxious nights...tearful yearning.
  he reviewed his remit to extra kind
by spending more hours...of his own leisure time
on alternate Tuesday's at halfpast nine
 keeping their home fires  burning
 
  Working days over, 
each morn...I turn over.
alarm clock...no longer rings
spend waking hours...getting weary
passing time...doing please myself things.

I'm off to bed...but for one last chore,
  if I go unexpected...one night
 That's rubbing out...all of the history 
 on my tablets...most visited site.