Sentenced Poem by Roy Watkins

His fate was sealed when he said “No”
The orders came; to no mans land
With certain death
He didn’t want to go

Two long hard years he'd fought
Gassed and shelled
Lost friends and kin
Old and new
How to survive he taught

He’d just had enough
This winter was tough
Death a certainty was nigh
If he went, if he stayed
Either way he would die

Pleas of mercy I beg
This man has been through hell
A Kitchener’s volunteer
Day one ‘til now
Even shot in the leg

Deaf eyes
Unsympathetic ears
Across the room
The soldier’s friend*
Talked through there gloom

An orderly woke him at noon,
Dawn tomorrow he explained
Letters all signed and will be sent
Padre will be here soon

He marched if he could
As brave as could be
God bless my son
In his ear the padre begun
As his escort tied him to the post

A white patch pinned to his chest
Buttons, badges, insignia taken away
As now the blindfold now comes
The rifle bolts slam shut
It’s bullet now ready

Beneath the blindfold he began to cry
For god, king and country
I did my best
His statement falling on deaf ears

He was silent in the dawn light
A soft breeze blew across his cheek
What is he thinking, where is his mind
No words of anguish or hate
Silence broken by a single word………………..



FIRE