Senseless. Poem by Ray Sinclair

Dark torment, such a long night,
scared, alone, mind consumed with fright.
Barely sixteen, the age of me,
curled up, tenuous hold on sanity.

Mud, trenches, seems far away,
was I a coward on that bloody day?
Desertion was the charge.'I cry '
'He'll be shot a dawn, 'I don't want to die '

I try to sleep in my darkened cell
If war was bad, this is hell
I'd done my best, I was brave!
now, for me, an early grave.

Mother, Mother, is what I cried
I want to be cuddled up by her side
feeling so lost, need her love
I pray, plead to God above.

marching boots down the hall
light flickers in, it must be dawn
Hands are tied, led to a square
yell and scream 'this is so unfair '

I hear early birds sing their song.
Blind fold! How could it have gone so wrong?
My mind floods, death and fear,
I think of mother who I sense is near.

Cobbled boots, rifles cock
My body is stiff, a state of shock
I was brave, Im not a liar!
Squad! Ready! Aim! ........ Fire! !


Written by Ray Sinclair on 06/11/13
© Ray Sinclair 2013