NOW in my twilight years I see
Such a waste first world war to be
For to all our community, Second World War no choice had to fight for our liberty
But World War one so unnecessary then
From a small incident when-
An assassination in far off Serbia lit a flame then
To devour all those millions of young men
Marching away so blithely
To the popular tune Tipperary
Then disillusioned with grim reality
At all the slaughter they were about to see
Muddy trenches, lice and bully beef
Over the top mostly to grief
Then next day as before
Again the gunshot and cannon roar
Companionship and a fag to share
Many a friendship flourished there
Their only solace letters from home to read.
Often wounded and hospitalised for a while
Then back to the front in no time
Others sent home to Blighty, injuries so terrific
Amputees, gassed, blinded how horrific!
It seems my own father was wounded and gassed
Sadly as a child I never asked
He was a rifleman and stretcher bearer
Always in the midst of danger.
Imagine the horror- words cannot describe too,
How the wars are worldwide now
You’d think nations would have learned some lessons from the past
But it seems these conflicts will ever- last
Remember on Christmas Day two enemies did meet
As in no man’s land they went to greet
Exchanging gifts and sang
Until next day- again-the gunfire began
Just as before
The slaughter and the cannons roar
Now we can fervently pray
That there’ll be no wars someday
by
Eirlys Thomas
Coates Road
Penarth
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