Epitaph

When I go please do not drape me over with some piece of tarnished cloth some flag of esteem who’s dignity has been lost and long forgot Please do not weep for me in the tears of poppies and to such brutal arrogance and political expedience bring my passing to nothing No salute of gun fire to ring in my ears please, not for all this inhumane ire or these patriotic fears for death has lain me on their contemptuous pyre and by deception crippled my heart Do not stand stalwart in your righteousness nor deem me hero but see this fool fallen to foolishness I gave away my most precious gift my life for those who to readily made my life a forfeit And to a blaggard’s cause I was wasted my families name to be chiseled in their concrete and it was to forgiveness I lay myself prostrate forgive me I served the murderous demons and I served their hate Do not colour me with pride for I am just one of many uncounted in the endless white crosses in the fields of crucifixes where remembrance inevitably dies I was nameless just another statistical consequence I died for a deception I died in ignorance and stupidity I died in arrogance I gave up my greatest gift I gave up all my loves and it is to forgiveness I lay myself prostrate forgive me I served the murderous demons and I served their hate forgive me I served the murderous demons and I served their hate Please no epitaph no memorial for in my shame I could not look upon the faces of my children