The Salute

[johnthebank]

I wrote this in 2002 shortly before visiting Ypres for  Remembrance Day

A wizened right hand

Stiffens

To salute the ghosts of no-man's land

As the left wipes mustard memories

That leave his eyes to join the breeze

So another century begins its pass

And he pauses

To think of friends who barely saw the last

Some that left him had eyes wide open

Others eyes shut fast

Nowhere to hide for he nor they

Amid the nightmare of the gas

Thus he struggles to come to terms

With decades of family and life

Why he alone among his friends

Was blessed with a future, a wife

But answers lie beyond his reach

As they did decades before

When they approached that foreign beach

Young and brave and proud to the core

Now, with wizened heart and wizened hand

With bones creaking but determined to stand

The medals touch his chest, hang cold on his suit

His eyes lower

And glisten

Then he gives a salute

[nigel lawry]

great stirring stuff

well done

[Rudi]

sensitive, respectful. Reads nicely too.

[johnthebank]

Thanks for the comments. I should mention that I was invited on the trip and have no military background. I'm not even British. The human aspect interested me. When a guy struggles to his feet to say "They shall not grow old as we grow old...." and he's 106, it makes you think.

[Guest]

I'm not even British.

You don't need to be British to feel respect and awe!

I think this is very poignant...

What nationality are you, out of curiosity...?

[johnthebank]

Sorry, that was a little clumsy. I meant that rather than any family connection a friend invited me to travel with the Devon & Cornwall Fire Service. They visit every year. Oh, I'm born and bred Torquay with an Irish Passport.

[Guest]

You still in Torquay? Thats where I am...

[johnthebank]

Yep. Last time I looked. Equidistant from Torquay Utd and The Downs.

[Steve]

How did you find songstuff...?

[johnthebank]

I'm always on the look out for lyricisty/songwriting stuff on the net. At the moment I'm collaborating with 2 composers I found via the net : Alan Lauris of Utrecht in Holland and Andrzej Rejman of Poland. Just heard on Friday that I made the finals of the UK Songwriting Contest : Pop category at the first attempt. I've made the lyric category finals as a Double-finalist 2002 & 2003 but this was my first try with a song. It was one I wrote with Jannica Smith called " Nobody's Perfect...But".  

As for living in Warbro Road, Torquay I quote the American comedian Steven Wright : " It's a small world but I wouldn't want to paint it."

[Alistair]

John

I don't live in Torquay...but I think this poem is exceptional anyhow. Really, really poignant.

I visited the cemeteries at Arras a few years ago. This poem brings the same lump to my throat as that experience did. Truly brilliant.

Alistair

[johnthebank]

Thanks. It was very moving. I was rather humbled when the Firemen asked if they could publish it in their in their memorial programme. They visit every year and represent the British Fire service. They are more-or-less twinned with the Ypres Fire service.It's all become very personal for them.

[olivejuice3]

great job! this has a universal theme that can touch anyones heart, whether they were in the military or not