Christmas

By PoppyS

Fri, 27 Oct 2017
  • 1917 reads
6 comments
 

Nineteen fourteen
and he has his passport to a country
full of a language he will not understand.
Still, what does it matter – it will be all over
come Christmas – ‘so they say’!

He likes the sense of belonging
feeling he is one of the men
doing his bit, for King and Country
wife at home, child on the way
a gun in his hand
and an income in his pocket.
Home in time for Christmas 'well that’s
what they say’!

He stands in line, waiting his turn
the sound of heavy gun fire
exploding inside his head.
His sergeant signals the countdown
for the assault to begin.
Holding his breath before shouting out loud

Ten
Nine
Eight
Seven
Six
Five
Four
Three
Two
One

Charge...

Seconds later he  hears nothing
outside the word GAS pounding
in his ears.
What a difference time does make
two years past, since they said it would
all be over, come Christmas.

Trouble is he can no longer recall
which Christmas they meant
or for how many more
his luck will endure.

Certificate PG
Poem
Drama

Comments

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

With Rememberance day on the horizon, I found this to be a fitting poem for all those that are doing one of the most difficult jobs.

Very poingnant and a somewhat terrifying thought that there are those that have lost touch with time.

Jenny. 

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

There's a lot in here, very simply and concisely written. I liked 'he likes the sense of belonging … doing his bit, for King and Country'. There was a competition about the first world war on here in 2014. I was looking in the 'competitions' section, and I think you have to go back to page 7 or so and then further back to find the entries. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by celticman on

luck doesnt last very long in any war and in the great war, to end all wars, well, often your number was up. 

 

Submitted by Ed Crane on

Says it all  ..... well most of it. I think they really believed in what they were doing. My Grandfather lied about his age and signed up at 17. He was lucky he came home pretty much in one piece.

check this out: https://www.abctales.com/story/ed-crane/charlies-going-home

 

Submitted by PoppyS on

Yes, ED they did believe, that is what I find so sad, 'they went in their thousands like 'lambs to the slaugher,'  the death toll was some 6000 a day, most of it caused by the incompetence and arrogance of the men at the top.

Thank you for dropping in, always very much appreciated.

Pops ~xx~

 

Writing is art in pictures – Go paint poetry!

Submitted by Kurt Rellians on

Good poem, very fitting to our remembrance of the horrors of war, and that tragic, sad, and pointless war in particular.