I stayed beside him
all through those journeys into unfamiliar lands
of endless sun, or scrub, or endless sand
I was there

I stayed beside him
feeling his fear, smelling his fear
seeing the mingled sweat and sand
in the cracks on the skin of his hands
I was there

I stayed beside him
as the sun went down
and the light from the sky went out
I was there

I stayed beside him
when the gas came, yellow and stinking
and I crouched low, shrinking down
and I heard the bugle’s call
and the officers shout
I was there

I stayed beside him
when the voice that I loved fell silent
I was there

I stayed beside him
when those gentling hands were stilled
and the light in his warm, wise eyes went out
and his comrades at arms
put a new leather collar around my neck
and they wanted to lead me away
across that red tinged sand
but not before
I had licked his face
and his cold, still hand