Nerves Of Steel Poem by Gert Strydom

The battle against enemy tanks,
in armoured cars that continually roll in
does require nerves of steel

to time upon time drive in at speed,
to stop to risk your own life,
to get in a shot

and then to drive away quickly
and to stay alive
remains an immense thing

or maybe it becomes mechanical,
as if the events are already programmed in
along with teamwork
and keeping your mind

and all that I do remember
is the hollow feeling,
enemy projectiles flying past,
enemy armour burning

and the dismal smell of death
that remains on the wind.