On Ainley Top Looking Down

Gold cherry

By Ewan

Sun, 06 Nov 2022
  • 786 reads
7 comments
 

On Ainley Top, looking down,

low-level cloud obscures the town.

 

The ghosts of all the Yorkshire Pals,

march to the memorial in the Rec.

 

Rifleman Briggs, Private Brown

Corporal Solomon, all fell down.

 

The cloud, or the fog, or the mustard gas,

hides the sandstone in the past.

 

Meanwhile in the retirement home,

a 60's shambles of spalling bricks

haunted by ghosts in high-backed chairs,

old soldiers and their wives spin tales

in disjointed chants and non-sequiturs.
 

As his centenary letter turns brown,

Jack wears his medals on his dressing gown.

 

On Ainley Top, looking down:

it's Remembrance Sunday in our town.

 

 

*Audio version available here

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Certificate PG
Poem
Gathered Flowers
Miscellaneous

Comments

Submitted by Mark Say on

Assuming this is written from a perspective of around 20+ years ago, as references suggest World War One and it mentions the ex-soldier's centenary. Good in conveying a lot through a handful of vivid images.

 

Submitted by catherine poarch on

Hopefully not contraversial to say I liked it! Especially the medals on the dressing gown.

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

yes, I liked the medals on dressing gown very much, too

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

The old soldiers, their families and contemporaries remember. We need reminding. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Ed Crane on

I find that disappointing. 

(not too contraversial I hope)

 

Submitted by airyfairy on

This is our Facebook and Twitter Pick for Armistice Day. Please do share/retweet far and wide.

Ewan - for some reason I can't fathom, ABC FB won't let me post any pictures at all today. Really sorry. 

Submitted by celticman on

we forget the past at our peril. Already done, I'm afraid.