Remembrance Day Poem by Mark (Owen) Williams

It was on that day that hell rejoiced and heaven did refrain, when death turned bold compounded souls all echoing in pain.
The innocents of youth was poured as wine on mud and rain, red streams did flow a river flood as trenches called their name.
Those trenches called their name.

But was there one, just one lost lamb, just one so young and brave? One innocent with hopes and dreams, one lamb our Lord could save.
But none escaped the floods great might, all destined for the grave, the devil’s glee in fields of mud on fertile ground they lay.
In France, their home, they lay.

Barbed wired fields (steel cotton wool) did welcome those who dare, advance across that no-man’s line their welcome was despair.
Like snow they fell as open guns engulfed them in their snare and drop they did, these flakes of snow all entered Satan’s lair.
All entered Satan’s lair.

They heard the shells they smelt the gas their panic was profound, they scrambled for those masks of life in vain the loss compound.
Gas burnt their clothes, their mask, their skin, their comrades fell to ground, blood blisters swelled, their face, their feet, for days after the mound.
Such pain after the mound.

Yet here those spirits rest today, their bodies now do sow, such seeds of hope that crimson grace, triumphant – to and thro.
Their poppies dance for victory against the devils mow, defying Hell and all its hosts – salvation’s blessings flow.
Salvation’s blessing flow.