Sunday 10 November 2013

Remembrance - Poem: Pals










Pals

                                                                    
 In this lonely place

     rows of white stone       
mark the spot
where we once saw the dawn. 
                                                                                     
In this lonely place
     a solitary oak 
         whispers its sadness

                   where we once carved our names.

In this lonely place
     a flower blooms
         bright as the sun

                   that once warmed our cold backs.

In this lonely place,
    a breeze ripples grass
        silent now

                  where once we sought sleep.

In this lonely place
    a bird bravely flies
        soaring above

                   where the Howitzers roared.

In this lonely place
      shell-holes remain
         empty craters

                  Armageddon we once faced.

In this lonely place
    a rabbit passes by
       on the same earth

                   that once oozed the smell of mortal fear.

In this lonely place
    a whistle blew
        over we went

             where shells scorched Picardie.

In this lonely place
    a battle raged
      pals joined in conflict

                    divided ranks, into hell we ran.  

In this lonely place
    a tear was shed
        destiny marked

                     with the vile taste of despair.

In this lonely place
    the sun went down
         mud took claim

              where a Bergmann gun[1]spat our names.
                            
  We prayed
       We cried
              We lived
                     We died
                                    In this lonely place.


THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE

[1] Bergmann machine guns were not used on the Somme until 1918

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