Your Country Needs You

I've read many accounts on that horrific war that was WWI ,it was supposed to end all wars. It was trench warfare and men fought and died in hellish conditions. It inspired me to write this fictional verse. The posters said come fight with us and make your country proud Went to town my friends and I to sign on the dotted line I remember the scenes in town, the cheering of the crowd They said t'will soon be over and everything will be fine. Naive were we and believed them and everything they said Some basic training they gave us on how to use a gun It did not help my friends though because now they all lie dead To us this was a big adventure, just a bit of fun. I was assigned to B squad, trench number forty seven And had to stand in mud so deep it came up to my knees Soldiers had put up a sign that said ' shortcut to heaven ' After a while my skin was itching someone said it's flea's . Night time bombardments were the worst and my ears were ringing Often they'd strike lucky and parts of the trench would disappear We'd try to drown out the roars with patriotic singing In the eyes of the boys I was with you could see their fear. Everyday bodies were brought out and placed upon a cart As the stretcher bearers passed we'd think thank god that's not me A gruesome sight I witnessed were those bodies blown apart I could not help but think that from hell those souls were free . In November ninteen eighteen the war was finally over We cried with tears of joy, we were finally going home After a few hours I saw them, the white cliffs of Dover Tears rolled down my face and I vowed never again to roam. Home for me was a struggle and it didn't seem quite real At night I'd have bad nightmares' and I would wake up screaming Often I'd wonder if my mental scars would ever heal My mother she'd rush in and say " son you're only dreaming ". It's been ten years now and the wars still raging in my head And I often ask myself how ever did I survive Nine friends I lost in that war and now they're forever dead Wars are a game of chance, whether you die or stay alive. Written 30th September 2019.