The Permanence of the Young Men - by
No man outlives the grief of war
/ Though he outlive its wreck:
/ Upon the memory a scar
/ Through all his years will ache.
/
/ Hopes…
World War I
The country I come from - by
had brindled garter snakes
/ freight train steam
/ dimes flattened on railway tracks
/ a rusting 1936 Studebaker Sedan for a playground
/ three dappled Indian ponies…
London Scottish - by
April, the last full fixture of the spring:
/ ‘Feet, Scottish, feet!’ – they rucked the fear of God
/ Into Blackheath. Their club…
The Sniper - by
Two hundred yards away he saw his head;
/ He raised his rifle, took quick aim and shot…
The Soldiers’ Cairn - by
Gie me a hill wi’ the heather on’t,
/ An’ a reid sun drappin’ doon,
/ Or…
‘When you see millions of the mouthless dead’ - by
When you see millions of the mouthless dead
/ Across your dreams in pale battalions go,
/ Say not soft things as…
‘All the Hills and Vales Along’ - by
All the hills and vales along
/ Earth is bursting into song,
/ And the singers are the chaps
/ Who are going…
Hey, Jock, are ye Glad ye ‘Listed? - by
Hey! Jock, are ye glad ye ‘listed?
/ O Jock, but ye’re far frae hame!
/ What d’ye think…
Fisher Jamie - by
Puir Jamie’s killed. A better lad
/ Ye wouldna find to busk a flee
/ Or burn a pule or…
Home Thoughts from Abroad - by
Aifter the war, says the papers, they’ll no be content at hame,
/ The lads that hae feucht wi’ death twae ‘ear…
The Great Ones - by
Ae morn aside the road frae Bray
/ I wrocht my squad to mend the track;
/ A feck o’…