Join up and enlist Kitchener said, the Army will be such fun
For King and country, make your mother proud son.
However life at the minute, it ain't that good
I've stood on a mine, losing lots of blood.
I've pins and needles now, feeling rather faint
I need urgent help or my prospects ain't exactly great.
help arriving now, trying to stop the bloody flow
off to the field hospital now; lets Go Go Go!
Fly me home please into the arms of my lover
if I'm back at home I know that I'll recover.
Time for me to leave now, time to say goodbye
homeward bound tomorrow it's time for me to fly.
My comrades aren't so lucky, tomorrow they're going 'over the top'
they won't be able to turn back, they won't be able to stop.
I may now only have one leg, but I'm the lucky one
tomorrow I won't be staring down the barrel of a gun.
Another dawn moment
Another dawn crime
Another act of violence
In a violent desperate time.
The firing squad paraded
On the killing ground
Every rifle charged but
One with a blank round.
They carried out the victim
Tied him to a chair
Filled full of whiskey
Just to get him there.
As one the rifles fired
On the officer’s shout
And then the firing squad
Marched off and fallen out.
Through each mind
A single thought was drilling
Pleas God I had the blank
So I didn't do this killing.
No such hope for the officer
Who, with strained white face,
Had with single revolver shot
Performed the Coup de Grace
Another dawn moment
Another dawn crime
Another act of violence
In a violent desperate time.
No attempt at understanding
No attempt at any care
It should have been Kitchener
Or Haigh tied to that chair
It was said that one weapon carried a blank so that nobody was certain whether or not they had actually carried out the execution.
Apparently towards the end, to stiffen morale, 5 or so officers faced the firing squad.
Your country needs you lads, let Lord Kitchener tell you more
Come forward, join the ranks and we’ll send you off to war
You’re fighting for salvation; you’ve got Jesus on your side
Remember that in battle; let the shepherd be your guide
Join up with your pals lads and march in time with pride
You’re Ulster Presbyterians, so, the lord with you abide
We’ll muster at the Shipyard so that everyone can see
Then continue to the Farmyards and the local Factory
You’re young, or even younger, than the army will allow
You look a little older since you smoke tobacco now
We’ll put you in a uniform and show you how to drill
We’ll teach you to be brave and then train you how to kill
Say goodbye to your family and prepare to sail away
You’ll fall in on the Western front and join the great affray
Although you may be seventeen, we’ve made you into men
Yet most of you will never see your mothers face again
Lord Kitchener sent out the call to arms
In England boys and men heeded the call
Women took over the factories and farms
Before the armistice thousands would fall.
Big guns like thunder all day and all night
Daily we witnessed severe waste of life
Fatigue and hunger, we still had to fight
I thought of home often and my dear wife.
The big battle came and the whistle blew
We charged the enemy, they opened fire
Death was coming and many of us knew
I saw many comrades face down in mire.
Fatally wounded on the ground I fell
But happy I was on leaving this hell.
Written on 19th July 2018.
For your finest sonnet contest sponsored by Mark Massey.
Judged 8.8.2018
Arise o! Kitchen pot
My stomach calls to bay.
To serve my stomach right
With appetizing gaze I pray.
The labour of my market-thing
Shall never be invaded
With poisonous outing.
One kitchen bound with foodstuff.
I prepare to massacre.
Arise o! Cooking burner.
Fight thee against food villains.
My vessels should thy saliver nourish.
My body shall thy reception flourish
Always be there for me.
For my food lusts satisfied.
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