We walked to the barracksBernie, John, Eric and meTime for call upIn the British ArmyA beautiful morningIn the month of MayWhen we entered the gatesWe were filled with dismayThe R.P’s greeted usAnd shouted with gleeWe hope you bastardsWill never be FreeSix weeks on the squareWe marched up and downSquare bashing finishedWe marched through the townWe marched to the stationThe train took us...
They lowered his body into the sandIn a far away foreign landFor Johnny was a soldier
The bugler played our last farewellThe rifles cracked and who will tellOf Johnny who was a soldier
(John Gibbs buried May 1949 Moascar)
Bill Underwood
From the series “National Service poems 1947-1949 by Bill Underwood “
Poor Paddy, we took him along the road to hell, through Ishmailia to Moascar Jail. Paddy looked sick and was really quite pale, as we entered the gates of Moascar Jail. Which of the bastards will be prisoner here? Screamed the provost Sergeant as we stood in fear. Prisoner and escort double around the room, the Sergeant’s voice then did boom. We double and doubled and doubled around, till...
“Blood Hell” said Ginger we did run wellMuch faster than any GazelleFor on that day the stakes were highNear fifty of them against Ginger and IRocks and stones hurtled through the skyBut none of them hit Ginger and I“Bloody Hell” said Ginger we did run wellEnkeliz askari yallah imsheeThe mobs were screaming in old TripoliBut as Ginger said we ran so wellWe survived that day to tell the...
In the Corn ExchangeThe band played“Now is the hour”We danced the last waltz I walked her homeWe kissed goodbye On the troopshipI sailed away Six hundred nightsI dreamedOf the last waltzAnd the goodbye kiss On a troopshipI sailed home In the Corn ExchangeThe band playedI didn’t danceThe last waltz I walked home alone Bill Underwood From the series “National Service poems 1947-1949 by Bill...
Sadly I walk’d within the field,To see what comfort it would yield;And as I went my private way,An olive-branch before me lay;And seeing it, I made a stay,And took it up, and view’d it; thenKissing the omen, said Amen;Be, be it so, and let this beA divination unto me;That in short time my woes shall cease,And love shall crown my end with peace. Robert Herrick (baptized 24...
Death! that struck when I was most confidingIn my certain faith of joy to be –Strike again, Time’s withered branch dividingFrom the fresh root of Eternity! Leaves, upon Time’s branch, were growing brightly,Full of sap, and full of silver dew;Birds beneath its shelter gathered nightly;Daily round its flowers the wild bees flew. Sorrow passed, and plucked the golden blossom;Guilt...
In the morning when ye rise,Wash your hands and cleanse your eyes.Next be sure ye have a careTo disperse the water far;For as far as that doth light,So far keeps the evil sprite.
By Robert Herrick
The spacious firmament on high,With all the blue ethereal sky,And spangled heav’ns, a shining frame,Their great original proclaim:Th’ unwearied Sun, from day to day,Does his Creator’s power display,And publishes to every landThe work of an Almighty Hand. Soon as the evening shades prevail,The Moon takes up the wondrous tale,And nightly to the list’ning EarthRepeats the...
Far from the churchyard dig his grave,On some green mound beside the wave;To westward, sea and sky alone,And sunsets. Put a mossy stone,With mortal name and date, a harpAnd bunch of wild flowers, carven sharp;Then leave it free to winds that blow,And patient mosses creeping; slow,And wandering wings, and footsteps rareOf human creature pausing there. William Allingham (19 March 1824 – 18 November...