The soldier.

In a drawer. long forgotten. a `dog eared`,faded photo, discarded lies,
amongst papers with all manner of documents. and former` contracted ties`,
the sepia colour slowly disappearing-dissolving back to original state,
before it was exposed to light and life, as was, at some earlier date.
The image is a soldier, and on the back is scribbled a message to mum`,
he looks so proud-she worries about her boy, a man overnight has become!
He gave everything for us, maybe even made the `supreme sacrifice`,
humans are such fickle beings, for our debts, he paid the full price.
His every moment, wretched,heartache and pain-the sheer futility of it all,
subsequent generations have squandered the results of his proud pall.
Constant misery in the trenches, utter confusion of this, now his life,
given so that others might have freedom from restriction and strife,
for those who never experienced this time of extremes of emotion,
the camaraderie, the enormity of the task, done with such devotion,
he was scared, just like we all would be, and full of `foreboding and woe`,
what was it for-he was just doing his duty, fighting an `invisible foe`?
Slung into this alien existence he never wanted-much was still to do,
one of the many who selflessly gave, even though his years were few.
Now is he forgotten and all that suffering he endured for nought,
doing his `bit for the cause`-in foreign fields he so gallantly fought?
His act of bravery must never be dimished,despite what some would say,
freedom and the notion to have an opinion must be cherished every day,
it does not just happen or is a probity to be taken lightly, it costs much,
so that we who are left must be eternally grateful with thanks,and,as such,
honour real heroes, who endured adversity, both in this land and afar,
and won the right to stand `free` underneath that bright, shining star.

`we will remember................we will remember them always.`

Jennifer Kersey-completed June 2004.

(to all who have endured war, and it`s effect, whether here or further afield.)