George's Sniper 1917 Poem by Terry Collett

George's silent
staring out
the window
his mother
watches him
as she stands
beside him.

She has sent
the maid out
below stairs
so that she
his mother
can have him
to herself.

What's out there?
She asks him.

There's snipers
he whispers.

She looks out
at the fields
and hedgerows
the tall oaks
swaying slow.

How many?
She asks him.

Where's my wife?
He asks her
looking up
with his eyes
hauntedly.

She's gone out
she replies.

There's danger
I told you
he mutters
the snipers.

She'll be back
pretty soon
she answers.

Polly stands
by the door
of the hall
looking out
at the drive.

She's been sent
from the room
leaving George
alone with
his mother.

Listen George
why don't you
come downstairs
for dinner
we have guests
his mother
says to him.

Where's Polly?
He asks her.

She'll be back
she answers
wishing her
son was well
that his nerves
weren't so bad.

There's one there
he shouts out
his finger
pointing out
at the hedgerow
get down low
he utters
ducking down
out of sight
pulling his
mother down
beside him.

His mother
looks at him
and then sighs
seeing tears
welling up
in his eyes.