War - Ww1 - I Walked Down Deadman's Road Poem by Paul Warren

In Belgium I walked the Deadman's Road
Seemingly a dirt road of no consequence
It is not even sealed in 100 years history
But when Pozieres was part of the Western Front
Australian diggers in 1916 were holding the line
This road lead back to the Casualty Clearing Station

And as the stretcher bearers carrying wounded men
Walking the road and placed them down
On the side to continue to care for their wounds
If they found they had died they would leave them
On the ground and go back to the fighting
Soon the road became lined with dead diggers

So they called it Deadman's Road because of it
And as I stood on this road I could hear the moans
Of dying brave men and could see them walk on this road
In an endless procession of their sacrifice been made.

© Paul Warren Poetry