The Plaque

1908 Last day at school for me Some thirteen years Ive had And Im going to be a farm hand Just like me dear old Dad Here now its Mr Peters A silence falls over the class 'Registration' he says as he does every day I am Williams and always called last Boys first as always he starts, I know it off by heart, Abbot, Brown then Carter, Cartwright and Cathcart, Edwards, Jones and Needham, Penny, Potter, Ryan Sadler, Seedhouse, Setters, The Smiths both John and Brian, Taylor, Tonks and Tromans, Walters, absent he, Watson, Wigg and Wilberforce, Then Williams, thats me. 1915 We'd never been out of the county But here we were grabbing our chance With butterflies, rifles and bayonets Here we were heading for France We crossed on the good ship bravado Yearning for war stern to aft Back slapping loud gallows humour We were young, we were keen.... we were daft 1920 My sister asks if Im going to see the plaque Then quickly says sorry I just mean do you want to go I tell her yes and dont worry Its cold, my sister holds my arm 'Here comes your teacher' she whispers 'A fine day for it Williams' Peters says 'This must be one of your sisters' 'My wife' I lie and he buys it I hear someone giggle behind He tells her she must be a very brave girl To marry a man who is blind I swear at him spitting my venom Like a serpent cornered and trapped But a voice speaks over a megaphone And everyone cheers and claps We are moving along at a shuffle People queuing to look at the plaque My sister describes the ornation Upon cedar wood names carved in black 'What does it say?' now I ask her And she read me the words that she saw To those of this village who gave their lives for their country in the Great War Read me the names I tell her And slowly now she does start Abbot, Brown, Carter, Cartwright, Cathcart She hesitates a little, She is crying a little as well, I say it doesnt matter She is finding it hard I can tell The list is very long she says And though so much I care The very best thing about it is That your name is not there.