T'was in the year of '98
Or was it '99
We dressed as Parliamentarians
To play a long gone time
The siege of Hull in '43
A bloody fought affair
Though our part was to bring it live
To folks who'd come to stare.
We fought the flouncing Royalists
In blazing Yorkshire sun
A script already written
As to which side rout or won
Though changes made by Generals
To suit their haughty will
Meant we had no clue
Of what to do
'Til early morning drill.
We dragged the heavy cannon
On battered carriage wheels
Grunting and a sweating
Digging in with rough shod heels
The Gun Emplacement readied now
For battle to commence
"Surprise attack at 3pm"
Note sent to soldiers tense
Well battles run as battles do
With bodies strewn galore
Apart from Major Generals
Who never hit the floor
When smoke had cleared
They stood there still
No muddied mark in sight
We'd taken on their orders
But they didn't take the fight.
So some things change in History
Some lessons to be learned
Of how men kill and will be killed
For ideals lived and yearned
But think on this small shaggy tale
And muse on war games still
Fought on fields of right and wrong
Which serve that bitter pill.
minor edit 23.01.09
