In nineteen fourteen
The United Kingdom
Came to the aid
Of a neutral nation
Thereby joining
A conflagration
That set the world ablaze.
They called it The Great War.
No more galloping Hussars
With raucous cries of glory
Outstretched steel tipped arms
Rushing to meet their deaths
At the open jaws of cannon.
After all, this was The Great War
Angry metal monsters roar
Shaking solid ground
And spitting white hot hornets
All around.
In retaliation
The German nation
Sent raining hell
And toxic shells
Upon their foes
God knows,
After all, this was The Great War.
Silent putrid fumes
Found room
In frightened eyes,
Drifting down gaping throats
To rest
In chests
Alongside beating hearts.
Silent blinded columns
These Mother's sons,
Now a meandering train,
Each a hand
On the soul in front
As they stumbled on
As heroes.
After all, this was The Great War.
In no man's land
The hands of both side's youths
Were raised in supplication
To absent Gods
And distant Mothers,
But, no matter
After all, this was The Great War.
So was this folly? fallacy?
Looking back
What was it for,
This wholesale slaughter
Which
Forever more
Will be known
As The GREAT War.????
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Owain Glyn
