POEM: War Photograph (plus AUDIO)

A few days ago I found a photograph in the rain at the side of the road. A recycle bin had been knocked over and there were a few bits and pieces strewn around. I realised it had been discarded, clearly there was no one left to be sentimental about this photo and it had been thrown in the bin for recycling. It looks like these beautiful young men were maybe doing training, possibly engineers judging by the wellingtons some of them are wearing, there is an army tent errected behind them. Salisbury Plain was a common place for training (it still is). It looks like the 1940’s and they have the look of young men eager to get to the enemy and do the duty they have been told to believe in. I cleaned the rain and mud off the picture and I spent some time looking at their faces and imagining their banter and seeing if I could time travel back and be with them for a moment.

War Photograph

We answered the call to protect our nation
Me, Billy and Jock
On a bar stool one night with great oration
The enemy we did mock

We were told we must defend freedom
our regiment gathered, training
defend the borders of our great kingdom
on Salisbury Plain it was raining

We met others like us and we gave our lives
Billy, Jock and me
we had mothers and sisters and girlfriends and wives
for our king we fought to be free

We were fathers and sons, mates and brothers
me and Billy and Jock
In the battlefield mud we cried for our mothers
and died of blood loss and shock

On a day in the sun we gathered together
We were boys without any fear
We were pals, we were mates, we were birds of a feather
for our enemies death we would cheer

I lived to the end and home I did go
Just me, not Billy or Jock
I left them on the field in the mud and the rain
dying of blood loss and shock

Now I am gone too and our picture is here
The three of us together again
When the sun came out and we gave a cheer
In training on Salisbury Plain 

Thanks for being here. If you have any thoughts on the photograph let me know.