The war.
It  came and went.
The youthfulness of innocence came.
None knew what it meant.
Mere children marched forwards into war.
Single boys to never love.
Single sons, one or two.
A thousand or more if only they knew.
Lost boys.
Missing men.
Never again, such sad refrain.
Respectively nodding to those of The Somme.
Europe in chaos.
Never again.
(C) LIVVI

For long, my house has been lying deserted
My gate has not been opened wide to let in anyone
No guest has so far come to visit me
Tired of distant wanderings
I have come here to listen to the beat of silence
Occasionally broken by the sound
Of birds' laughing wings overhead
Here I have brooding shadows for company
Hermit like I wrap myself in my solitude

Now abruptly when you announce your arrival
I feel excited and equally perplexed
What shall I serve you? I am at a loss
My hearth has not been lighted for long
And my kitchen pots remain empty
I know I should serve you
Something chilled or warm
In my menu, I have a simple surprise
But not of the edible kind
Nor delectable to your palate
But as I have known you since long
I hope it will appease you

In poetry’s platter
I shall serve my thoughts warm,
Garnered in the lonely hours
Of my solitude!

The only dish I have!

Sign there son
You will be paid
Take the shilling
Europe awaits!
Grab your rifle
Grab your sack
Tell your mum you'll be back

Meet new friends
Palls together
All aboard and off to The Somme
They were just kids together alone

First the smell
Then the noise
Far from what you left at home
Then the shells begin to fall
Like nothing you had seen before

You're wet and cold and in a hole
Shaking with fear not the cold
Your friend just passed in a puff of smoke
His head was first, then his *****
His legs are spread across the floor

Then another explodes next to you
The smoke clears and the Sarge smiles at you
Like a statue painted red
He doesn't know he's already dead

Mother Mother! Others scream
But cries and wails no one hears
None of this can be real
You're just a boy and soiled with fear


Fifty years past then more
At night you still hear the screams and cannons roar
Like yesterday but years before
It didn't end all the wars

They made a sequel a bigger cast
Not your turn now to carry the flag
With one arm you can't do that
And your lungs still burn from the gas

Once again the generals cried
"Come on lads, we need you now, come and sign the Sgts form"
But was Tommy on the top once more?
Or did they use anothers name, to sign your precious lives away.

When oh when will all the madness end
For The Somme took away your friends
Only poppys now remain
Over fields where Britains youth lies slain