My two Sabbatical Poems

And here are the two poems togther.  May I just add - they are poems that I have written on my recent trip to France and Belgium.  Somneone didn't believe that I had written them!

Don't tell me

Don't tell me that you're not quite sure
Exactly why you're here
You rushed to join,
You took the coin,
You joined in with the cheer

You knew what you were doing

At least that was our plan
Now stand up straight
Accept your fate
And take it like a man.

Don't tell me your excuses

Of how we led you on
We made it plain
You wouldn't gain
Yet you still joined in the song

Forget the loves you left behind

Or the loves you've lost out here
What you saw
You see no more
Your only friend is fear

No tales of woe will help you now

The hour will soon arrive
How you feel
Is of no appeal
We won't let you survive

You've failed our God, you've failed our King

You've let your Country down
Before you go
You need to know
You'll never wear the crown

One last wish I'll grant you

One last with that's all
It's fair you know
We like it so
So get on with your call

Dear God please don't forget me

As I continue on my way
Forgive me
And accept me
At the start of my new day


The one I posted earlier (slightly changed)

Innocence

Bang you're dead,
the children said
As they played their innocent game
Is this the truth
Of forgotten youth
Or the contrast of glory and shame

Bang, you're dead
It's as simple as that
The ending will soon begin
Before you go
I want you to know
The horror of the battle you're in

Bang you're dead
It's as easy as that
When you've done it many times before
Be a good chap
And give us a clap
If you quickly hit the floor.

Bang you're dead
It's as quick as that
If you won't wriggle about
Don't give us a quip
And it's still upper lip
And then it's over and out,

Bang, you're dead
It's as painless as that
If you admit what you have done is wrong
No moan or complaint
I know you're no saint
At your end I might sing you a song

Bang you are dead
Now where's your God
He's hidden away in the sky
Ever present, they say
Not far far away
Don't you ever want to question why?

Bang you're dead
Put on the hood
I don't want to see your face
It's been good to know
And a share a hello
But it's time to bring on the next case

Bang you're dead
And now that's a fact
I won't see you any more
Guilty or not
It won’t matter a jot
That's the true cost of war!

Bang you're dead,
the sergeant said
As they played their futile game
This is the truth
Of forgotten youth
Not the contrast of glory and shame