“Long Khan Province, 10 July 1969
The contact report, it stated..."

I remember Ray Kermode at Woodside.
He was sitting on the bed next to mine,
Sewing buttons on his shirt and wincing
At my *****, *****, song.
It was not so much the singing (which was loud)
But the stupid, foul, profanity which he hated.
Nowadays, I think I've changed but Ray hasn't;
Ray can't, he's dead.
And you will never, ever put to right that wrong,
But needs must carry it forever
With you in your head.