The Rock

The soldier stands to attention
sillouetted against the ocean
guarding his little beach
for centuries. The lessons he could teach
The changes he'll have seen
yet he keeps a silence so keen
no lessons to be learnt about money or greed
(things our soldier doesn't need)
no wars for him, to gain a few pounds
no poverty, no disease, no hunting with hounds.
He does tell all this, but we don't hear
whether through ignorance or fear.
So next time you stand by the sea
and the rock stares back solitarily
try listening to the whisper of the waves
as they swirl around his caves
breaking with a crash onto his beach
and maybe he'll have a lesson or two to teach