Sleep at last

Experience of World War 1 soldier

Head kept down, flying mud
Shells keep pounding with a thud
Machine guns sound, bullets rake
Counting of men’s lives they take.


Boys line up, whistle blows
Men go over the top in rows
Straight ahead, no-mans land
machine-gun posts, seen being manned.


Keep your calm, walk so slow
Deal the enemy a mortal blow
Shouts ring out, bullets fly
Friends beside me fall down and die.


To the wire, still intact
Cutting power of shells was lacked
Stop and climb, lower your guards
Still to go, too many yards.


Hammer blow, searing pain
Look down, blood flows from my veins
Weakened knees, artery sever
Sleep at last, this time for ever.