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