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.