The glorious dead

They lay silently at attention

beneath a hazy sky

wind brushing them,

dust spoiling around

and endless poppies

worn. 

Overhead carrion hunters

circled shark like

and memories

of their young lives

swam around in tears.

Too late for hindsight

and too early

for remorse

so here silently they lay

the glorious dead.

Royal Marine

Another one died today

amongst a din
of nervous noisy gunfire -

- blood bubbling on his chest
congregated like
a ship succumbing to an ocean

- He sank silently

and for the service
of his country
that was busy lamenting
over tax hikes.

Shadows

The shadows i discovered
on a garden wall

resembled soldiers
from the great war;

escaped from the poppy fields
of northern France.

They were dressed to attention
with their rifles slung
and stood proudly in
the wall with military precision.

"Thank you for my freedom", i told
the silent shadows,

before leaving the soldiers
to a world of forgotten promises.