Your Poems

we walk round the Somme, our eyes are wide open
we listen to stories that make our hearts gladden
walking the Somme, our eyes still wide open
listening to stories that make our hearts sadden
we walk round the Somme in the footsteps of heroes
hearing more stories of hardship and sorrows
We walk round the Somme, our ancestors the same
So listen up please and tell them we came.

Ade

The Winchester Road by CH

In the woods on the road from Winchester
The man paused to light his pipe and get his breath.
This was it, this was war !
and he felt his breast stir.
As the pipe smoke rose in the clear fresh air
he looked around and the sound of bird song
came to his happy ear
and he slowly moved along.

Months later, after many miles of travel
and sound of boot on cobblestone and gravel
the man found himself in another wood,
not by Winchester but in faraway Belgium.
He stood still awaiting the bird start,
Instead the world went dim
as the snipers bullet found its mark.

A Poppy for Edward by CH
Where fields of grass and poppies grow
the summer wind through tall trees does blow
and soaring larks high skywards fly
'tis in this land you now lie.
Where once the crazy hand of man
brought death and destruction across the land
Where shouts of death midst the battle cry
'tis in this land you now lie.
Where muddy boot in rain filled trench
and heavens rain each man did drench
Where mortally wounded gave last sigh
'Tis in this land you now lie.

Yet though the ground hides mortal remain
after battle hell and battle pain
yet no sign does it reveal
of the young Englishman who used to feel
the way we feel and shout and talk
the way he breathed and ran and walked
for now in quiet French countryside
he sleeps with comrades side by side.

To you Edward yearly a Poppy grows
given by God to one he knows
for your grave is lost and can never be found
while you sleep below this foreign ground.
Now your name shines high on the Thiepval Tower
and way below grows your Poppy flower.