POEMS

PATRIOTIC    REMEMBRANCE   IN MEMORIAM      MISSING YOU   

GENERAL    PTSD

"Tommy 2009"

 I am the lock and the bolts 

On your windows.

 I am the bared doorway to 

Your enemies.

 I am the one who stands

 In the way of the stones 

And missiles of hatred. 

I am the target which the bullets 

Must go through In order that

I might save you 

Even if it is the death of me. 

I am the one that Kipling 

Called out to in his ballads. 

For it is me that is so named 

The British Tommy. 

And yes the battle has changed 

And more so has the armour 

Even the gender of those who fight 

But not the dying for my country. 

So listen a while as they 

Call out the dead at roll call 

For your freedom is won 

By the fit and young such as me. 

And don’t talk of the ethics 

Or of those many conventions. 

A roadside bomber has none of these 

They kill as they will and want to 

So often with invisible ease. 

And while you go about 

Tending to your business 

And fussing over Christmas trivia 

I fight to gain the bitterest of yards.

 Is it turkey you say you 

Are having for Christmas? 

And all the while

I fight dirty, bloody and hard. 

Yes I am the locks on your windows 

And I am the bolts on your doors. 

Moreover I am your soldiers 

Your sailors and aircraft personnel 

And your very own tradesmen of war. 

©Kevin Pyne, Dartmouth

"We Watched"
 
"We watched you go,
You brave children of our nation,
Those we had watched grow,
Now armed for battle,
Proudly marching row on row.
 

We watched you fight,
Boldly facing great perils unknown,
Through the scorching day and bitter night,
You lived and fought undaunted,
Defending tirelessly all that is good and right.

We watched you fall,
Those we had loved and do love,
You who answered freedom’s blessed call,
Rest now amongst your family,
We who are Britannia’s children one and all.

We watch you still,
Flying our flag over the sea,
United our Kingdom shall stand,
Behind that which you hold aloft,
Although you reside upon foreign land,
The spirit of the nation shall never flee,
From the side of those who fight such as thee,
To keep Britannia proud, glorious and eternally free."

© Jeremy Bellamy 2008

The British Soldiers Afghanistan Poem

Lungs full of dust, feet blistered and torn
Uniforms in shreds but with pride they are worn
Little sleep do we get and our rations are poor
So we ask the Americans and they give us more.

Many miles we have trodden in this heat hot as hell
And the horrors that we witness our loved ones we don't tell
In firefights in compounds hunkered down against a wall
We do our duty with pride and prey that we wont fall.

The GMLRS, Warriors and Vikings have their place here in the fight
We hope in years yet to come they're not our nightmares in the night
But we have our job to do today our orders have come through
Its yet another Helmand compound to be cleared by me and you.

No more post again for a week or two no more calls can we make
Till we're back in camp for supplies again and an hours respite we can take
Too frequent now IED's our brothers lost and wounded here where we stand
And no time today to mourn them as we continue the fight in this god forsaken land

So role on the end of tour when from hell we can depart
and two months home with loved ones that we can not wait to start
The time will go so quickly when at home again we be
My next op tour Afghan? I will have to wait and see.

  © Kenny Garrick June 2008

A Soldiers Pledge

Wherever we must go

Whatever we must do

My brother’s in arms I promise

I’ll always stand beside you

I’ll face the dangers you face

Keep you safe from harm

I’ll guard you as you rest your heads

When all about seems calm

When the enemy is closing in

I’ll help keep them at arms length

 Then we’ll send those b******s packing

Together with our strength

Should one of our brothers fall

I will share his pain like you

For the honour we’ll hold for our brothers

Helps each one of us through

We’re all in this together

Brother’s in arms far from home

And knowing we all stand together

Not one of us is ever alone

My Brother’s I salute you

For you are all my friends

I’m proud to stand beside you all

United ‘til the end

© Michaela Turner (aka Kale) proud mum of a serving soldier

One Big Military Family

When one becomes connected

To the military family

It does not matter which part one is in

You’ll always be proud of all three

Masters of the seas … The Royal Navy

Might be the oldest of the three

But they’ll still send enemies packing

To keep our waters free

Masters of the skies … The Royal Air Force

Put on breath taking show

When taking out a target

Before they even know

Masters of the land … The British Army

 Our Brothers in Arms of course

Britain’s got no worries

Thanks to this truly awesome force

Operational tours can be very hard to face

With loved ones posted away

Facing so much danger

Putting their lives on the line every day

But our armed forces have another role

Through the hearts and minds they share

Building whole new lives for less privileged folk

Showing them that they care

When posted at home bases

They’re still away from home

But at least there’s much less danger

And they don’t feel so alone

Then there are the ceremonies

Each service playing their part

Regalia, pomp and circumstance

All delivered from the heart

Military shows

Truly spectacular displays

Showing the world what our armed forces do best

Whilst spectators watch on so amazed

There may be three separate forces

Each one serving a role

But they’re one big military family

Serving Britain – their ultimate goal!

THE BRITISH ARMED FORCES

WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU – THANK YOU

© Michaela Turner (aka Kale) proud mum of a serving soldier

TOMORROWS VETERAN

When I am old
With my medals on my chest
Will you be grateful
That I did my very best

When I am old
Will those words still haunt me
'We shouldn't have been there'
Even though, I helped keep you free

When I am old
And tears for my comrades fall
Will any of you understand
Side by side, we stood proud and tall

When I am old
Will you forget about me
Because if today you don't acknowledge us, then....
Tomorrow our parades, you won't want to see!!

Author: Di G ©

We’re So Proud of You

From birth to age five

His life’s just begun

The world is his oyster

Full of laughter and fun

He’s playing at soldiers

Hiding behind trees

Ducking and diving

Scuffing his knees

From six to age twelve

He’s off with his mates

Playing out of sight now

From the garden gates

He’s up to all sorts

But nothing too bad

Just being mischievous

A typical lad

A teenager now

The arguments begin

He’s pushing the limits

He thinks he can win

Parents know nothing

They’ve never lived

His words can be hurtful

But we always forgive

Then the day comes

For choices to take

Of his chosen career

What a decision to make

“What shall I do?”

“What can I be?”

“I want to choose something

To make you proud of me”

He thinks and he thinks

Till his mind is sore

Then suddenly one day

Opportunity knocks on the door

A television advert

Come take our test

To see if you are ready

To be one of THE BEST

“That’s it I’ve got it,

That’s what I’ll be!”

“I’ll be a soldier,

I’ll serve my country”

So it’s off to Scotland

He tries his best

To make the selection

Ahead of the rest

Then the day comes

When the letter arrives

He opens it carefully

There’s hope in his eyes

“It’s yes, YES I’ve made it

They want me in”

“And they’ve given me a date

When I can begin”

We’re so proud of you son,

We knew you’d get through

Your dreams of being a soldier,

Have finally come true

So much training to do son,

Far away from home

But we’ll always be there for you love,

On the end of the phone

A whole new world now

Has opened for you

Just keep on trying

You’ll make it through

It will not be easy

The training you’ll do

But it’s the only way

To make a Man out of you

Pass out day comes

He’s standing there proud

And looking for his family

Amongst the crowd

The ceremony begins

You can’t help but cry

So proud of your soldier

As he passes by

Then he’s off to Battalion

To his chosen career

He receives word of his posting

This you don’t want to hear

You knew it would happen

But you didn’t want to face

That he’s to be posted

To a sandy place

The day then comes

To say your goodbyes

You’re trying to hide

The tears in your eyes

And so it begins

Months full of worry

You hope and you pray

They pass by in a hurry

A few weeks pass by

You’ve not even heard

A single phone call

Not a single word

You can’t help but worry

You don’t sleep at night

And there on the news

What a terrible sight

The base has been hit

It’s been ‘raining’ all night

Your worries and fears

Turn to panic and fright

You close your eyes

And hold back the tears

As you reminisce

On his childhood years

You think of those soldiers

Who’ve been wounded or fallen

And you pray for peace now

For those poor lives that are stolen

You think of the families

Of the heartache they bear

And you cannot help it

Their sorrow you share

You pray for his safety

For his mates as well

They shouldn’t be there

In that place of hell

Then at last he’s calling

From out of the blue

You thank God they’re ok

Your prayers they’ve come true

He’ll be home soon now

From that sandy place

And you cannot wait

To see his smiling face

When the day comes

He seems much older

But you hug and you kiss him

Your brave little soldier

So to all of our soldiers

Wherever you are

We stand and salute you

Our shining stars

You fight for our freedom

Being honest and true

And we just want to say that

WE'RE SO PROUD OF YOU

© Michaela Turner (aka Kale) proud mum of a serving soldier