Old War Stories

I am young, a tough nut, hard to crack. Thick mud splashes half-blind me. Bones are jostled, pushed into aching flesh. I am spun around and dumped, lifted up shoved back in. A pummeled nose bleeds into my mouth, stagger, run, beaten down by panting hulks, heave myself to my knees. arms thrashing, finding bodies to bruise. Chasing through cold air stunned, brained, swapping pain thud for thud, ear bashing clubs, yell for more, hack and flay one sprained ankle dragging behind a black and blue knee, plod on through the mire. Limp away damaged and done. Rugby is not for wimps.