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March of the Bulldog

Thirteen times that flag when down Thirteen times picked from the ground Thrust aloft by last man standing With the mortar shells still landing Wield the colours twenty paces Over fallen friendly faces ’til the mortars take a rest Leaving shrapnel in his chest Man and colours, each goes down To the muddied blooded ground Laboured is his final breath Raised the flag with all he’s left Soon the battle no more loud Flag of Britain flying proud All her fallen sprawled around Oberst doesn’t take it down Shakes his head, he isn’t grinning He says, ‘Wir können nicht gewinnen.’ Oberst = Colonel Wir können nicht gewinnen = We cannot win

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Tom Cunningham

Date: 11/15/2021 11:01:00 AM

The colonel was right there, great to see the Veterans marching past the cenotaph yesterday, they all looked so proud. Tom

Terry Flood
Date: 11/15/2021 11:08:00 AM

Using the German at the end was a last minute decision. Hoped it wouldn’t be off putting. Makes me laugh that, on the radio someone thought The Queen was kept away from the Cenotaph because of the terror alert…. Which suggests that the security services said, ‘Stick that tree hugging Charlie in there instead.’ Duh!! Terry

L Milton Hankins

Date: 11/14/2021 9:30:00 AM

Fine writing, Terry. I enjoyed it immensely, especially for Veteran's Day.

Terry Flood
Date: 11/14/2021 11:08:00 AM

Thank you , Milt. As I said to Gershon, I originally wrote ‘He Was The Brave’ for Armistice Day but I knew, if I held on to it, that I would tinker with it. So, having posted it a few days early, I wrote this for the day. Glad you enjoyed. Terry

Gershon Wolf

Date: 11/13/2021 6:33:00 PM

Epic rendering here, Terry. I really like reading actual battlefield poems, as opposed to paeans for or against war/military ventures. This feels so authentic. Bravo, Gershon

Terry Flood
Date: 11/14/2021 1:15:00 AM

Hadn’t intended this to be specifically British soldiers, but wanted the reader to be clear of which ‘side’ was which. Having used up ‘He Was The Brave’ a few days ago, I wanted something for Armistice day… this was it. Glad you enjoyed. Terry