Your Poetry Dot Com - Lost In The Poppy Fields

Captain said we were ready, brave souls on the precipice of history
Eyes set firm on the earth rim of no man's land ready for beyond
Silent all with thumping, fearful heart, pawns in a game designed by madmen
Each of us whispering prayers that this day would not end without us

Our duty confined us here, in rat infested tunnels, bloodwashed and sangbagged
This death ridden hole where the smoke of war clouds out the brightest stars
And the boom of distant gun tears out any tranquil thoughts and peaceful dreams
Leaving only mudspattered remains of broken men, to be set upon by vengeant bullets

We started over, up the ladder into bright condemning morning sunshine
Friends, husbands, brothers, walked forward scanning for the mist ghosts
The collective objective to drive out the enemy from every dug out alleyway
Yet the singular desire not to fall to the shrill shriek of a snipers round

Rifles at the slope, across the chest and pointing to the radiant sky
We moved en masse, with instilled arrogance to the unseen enemy
Bayonets glistening we took the main stage, 5 yards apart to a man as commanded
A line of lambs, a team of lions, whichever history would decide

One by one we fell, some with luck and the kindness of a swift death
While others screamed the agony of bleeding savaged limbs
Slaughter weaving through the smoke, scything from the ranks, vehement as the storm
Mocking our advance, swept aside like Autumn leaves on cold October morn.

Those of us returned tell of hell among the mudpools and comrades bathed in blood
Respect must go to the devil, the fools he made across both sides of a battleground
Under darkened skies last breath was given, valour scribed in journals to gather dust
Graves that bear no name, friends together still, lost in the poppy fields.

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