THE OLD SOLDIER

         THE OLD SOLDIER                    TIM WILLIAMS            DEC. 2014

HE WAS THERE, THEY SAY HE HAS MEDALS TO PROVE IT,
HE SIGNED UP, ONLY FIFTEEN THEY SAY HE WAS, TOO YOUNG
LIED ABOUT HIS AGE, HE WAS LOCAL BOXING CHAMP UNDER 16'S,
LOOK AT HIM NOW A CHANGED MAN QUIET, SAD, EMPTY,
WOULD'NT SAY BOO TO A GOOSE, LIVED WITH HIS MUM,
NOW HE LIVES ALONE, SINCE SHE PASSED AWAY.

THE TRUTH IS WHEN HE FIRST CAME BACK THINGS WERE DIFFERENT
HE'D LOST HIS CONFIDENCE, HE WOKE AT NIGHT SCREAMING,
COLD SWEAT RUNNING OFF HIS BACK LIKE RAIN,
HE MARCHED AWAY WITH HIS PALS, THAT'S WHAT THE 
REGIMENT WAS ALL ABOUT PALS WENT TO WAR WITH PALS,
BUT HIS PALS DIED, THEY NEVER RETURNED , HE WAS LUCKY
THEY SAID, HE DID'NT FEEL VERY LUCKY.

MOTHER TRIED HER BEST TO SHIELD HIM FROM THE OUTSIDE WORLD,
MOTHER HELD HIM AT NIGHT WHEN THE BOMBS AND VISIONS RETURNED,
MOTHER REMADE THE SOILED BED, WHEN HER SON'S 
SHAKING, NIGHTMARES HAD STOPPED, MOTHER TRIED HER BEST TO EXPLAIN
WHY HE WAS THE ONLY ONE TO COME HOME THAT HAD LEFT TOGETHER,
MOTHER TOOK THE BURDEN OF THE WAR ON HER BACK.

THE WAR ENDED IN 1918 FOR ALL THOSE BOYS STILL ALIVE,
MOTHER'S WAR CONTINUED TILL SHE DIED, THE WAR WITH
HER SON'S FEARS, WHAT HE HAD SEEN, NO YOUNG EYE'S 
SHOULD EVER HAVE SEEN, HIS HEAD FELT LIKE A TORMENT
OF THORNS TIGHTENING AROUND HIS TEMPLES, A TORMENT OF 
THORNS THAT'S PAIN NEVER FADED OR RETREATED OR DIED.

THE WIND CATCHES THE OUTSIDE SHITHOUSE DOOR, IT SLAMS,
BUT TO HIM THE NIGHT SKY IS FILLED WITH EXPLOSIONS,
AND HE IS BACK THERE WITH THE TORMENT OF THORNS
GRIPPING TIGHTER THAN EVER.