Mates Just Mates

They grew up side by side two kids in a park Playing together until the streetlights lightened the dark Growing as school friends and team mates in football They had a drink together at the end as their call They were a bit wild as youngsters will be Until they joined up wanting the world to see But war zones aren’t the place to seen Especially in a dirty war when nothings clean The IED ruined it all on the spot And one passed as the explosive ruined the lot There was colour in the funeral as they laid him to rest With a white tablet marking his grave at the country’s bequest But you see they will be mates to the end And each Friday afternoon he went to drink with a friend Standing alone with a beer in the front of the grave He had the usual drink with a mate toasting the brave. © Paul Warren Poetry