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I Never Thought It Would Be Like This

I never thought to see a man’s bones glistening white.
Nor see disembodied limbs flying left and right.
I never thought to see mud the colour of red
Nor see young men blown to bits or laid dead.

The rain isn’t water its blood mixed with tears
Trenches full of bloated corpses, lice, fleas and fears
No time to bury them all, but those that receive an earth overcoat
Are disturbed, exhumed by bombs, thrown in stagnant trenches to float.

Blown from their resting places scattered far and wide
Dodging, not only bombs and shells, but limbs landing by our side.
Men caught and ripped to shreds with razor wire and tracer shells.
Left to die hanging there, moaning, screaming, no funerals with church bells.

I never thought to see these things; I just thought victory, honour and glory
Not see death, destruction, waste and sights so disgusting and gory.
I only wanted to fight for my King, family and country
I never thought it would end, this massacre, mortal eyes should not see.

© 27/07/2012 ~GG~

It is the centenary year next year of the beginning of the Great War, I was inspired to write this after finding out I had a great Uncle that signed up for the Army, for King and Country .. he died at the end of September 1918 in France, never to return.

Copyright © Mandy Tams The Golden Girl | Year Posted 2013

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Harry Horsman Date: 5/27/2013 2:57:00 AM I've seen and read this before Mandy, it is a very moving poem, as is the mind set that wrote it, you capture the period and the horrors so vividly, and bring it home to everyone, i personally feel privileged to have read this..knowing in this day and age one still cares about those that fought, and died in their thousands all over a royal family tiff. Login to Reply

Sara Kendrick Date: 5/24/2013 7:21:00 AM Very moving work that you penned in honor of your uncle and others that died in the war..Is this WWI of which you speak?..If so, I had an uncle who served..My father and another brother were called up at the same time to go serve along side the other brother..When they got to where they were to go to be inducted, they learned of the armistic and the war being over..It was a miracle for them but not so for many like your uncle..Sara Login to Reply Mandy Tams The Golden Girl Date: 5/24/2013 10:43:00 AM yes WW1 Sara as you say they were very lucky xx