The Defence and National Rehabilitation Centre (the dnrc.org.uk) recently ran a poetry competition to honour those affected by conflict. Although, not one of the five shortlisted, below is my entry into that competition.
Robert M Lidster
The
Journey (a Soldier's tale)
When the journey is over, we lay on our beds
and think of the day yet to dawn.
Like the stories our mothers and fathers have told us,
and the legends that were old before we were born.
Since even before the time we remember,
we had only one common goal.
To be like explorers in legend and myth,
or to just get away from it all.
Now we are fighting for freedom, for Queen and for
country,
democracy must reign supreme.
For we liberate nations once condemned to dictation,
and find that it's all been a dream, it's not what it
seems.
Children are crying, mothers are lost,
fathers have died in the war.
And as politicians argue over the cost,
the people are saying, no more!
Still we go fighting for freedom, for Queen and for
country,
democracy must reign supreme.
For we liberate nations once condemned to dictation,
and find that it's all been a dream, it's not what it
seems.
When the journey is over, we lay on our beds,
and think of the day yet to dawn.
