A Soldier's Memory Poem by Alan Duffield-lock

I open my eye's and i'm looking up at the sky,
the bright star's are twinkling and a gleaming bright moon,
i feel wetness and droplets hitting my eye,
i wonder if i can move soon.

How long have i been lying here,
around me there is not much sound,
am i this way from drinking to much beer,
and the rain is getting heavy, pounding the ground.

No, wait a minute, i'm remembering a little bit,
i was with my soul brother's, my friends on that day,
but what were we doing, i wish i could sit,
i don't feel the cold, though my breath is seen floating away,

I hear a sound, it seems far in the distance,
a shooting pain comes from my back, it's like being hit by a lance,
Shooting, Wait, i remember a little more,
Shouting, ' time to go, time to die,
let's show them how to win a war ',
and the raindrops are heavy as they hit my eye.

The sound of someone crying is getting near,
i want to call out ' i'm here, i am here ',
but the sound is not clear,
and this is not because of fear,
i close my eye's and go to sleep,
and in my dream's, i did weep.

I remember as a schoolboy, going every week day,
how at playtime, football and cricket we use to play,
with my friend's George, William (Bill for short) and Harry,
playing British bulldog and conker's which we did carry,
then putting away my childhood,
i studied as hard as i could,
leaving school and going to work,
into a bank, starting as a clerk,
on Wednesday it was half closing day,
so around the town i would make my way.

Then i saw her, working in the haberdashary shop,
when our eye's met, well, i nearly did drop,
she's a friend of Harry's sister, so introduction's to be made,
arrangement's to meet, a group of friend's, watching the Easter parade,
i was nervous and got teased by Harry,
but to him i said ' She's the one i will marry ',
and so we did the following year,
friends and family, they were all there,
a year later we had a baby girl,
blue eye's, blond hair which did curl.

It's a call to arm's, one and all,
that's what everyone and the paper's say,
George, Bill, Harry and i answer the call,
so we sign up the very next day,
i don't go to war for the glory,
i don't go to war because i am brave,
soldier's go to war as part of thier life's story,
so that people are free after that day,
when the war is over,
and we all come home,
to see the white cliff's of dover,
back to where we were born.

As i start to retreat back to our lines,
dodging bullet's, shell's and mine's,
i stumble across my friend Harry,
i pick him up and to our lines i carry,
shell's exploding all around,
thundering noise as they hit the ground,
i fell a tremble and the searing heat,
as i'm hit in the back and blown off my feet,
i've remember all of how i got here,
and my mind becomes clear.

I hear a gentle voice calling my name,
i don't reconise it, but it is welcoming all the same,
' Joe ' the voice say's again and again,
opening my eye's, it is such a strain,
i see a brightly lit face looking down,
into my eye's, i start to frown,
the voice is so gentle and serene,
and make's me relax, like i've never been,
' Joe, don't worry, i'm here to help you,
the pain will go soon, believe me, this is true ',


' Joe, take my hand and close your eye's ',
i fell a tugging and i'm floating toward's the sky,
i panic, i open my eye's, looking straight into the face,
of an angel so full of grace,
i relax and look around,
into the sky and onto the ground,
and ther below are a thousand bright light's,
i could never dream of such a sight,
all those soul, all heaven bound,
and the transition done, without a sound.

I say to my wife and child,
remember me with fondness and smile,
and i send to you both all of my love,
i will watch over you both from heaven above.

5th March 2008