#aldershot
He was sent to Aldershot for training
He would learn how to **** or be killed
The training was all done with broomsticks
When he thought back it made his blood chill.
His unit was sent down to Portsmouth
To board a ship and go over there
It was packed to the gunwales with weapons
And the rations left no room to spare.
He practiced with his rifle on the journey
Like others who’d not held one before
He’d no sense of the horror he’d be facing
Nor the violence he’d always abhorred.
It was such a small piece of shrapnel
Caught both eyes as a shell case shattered
He never saw his two boys as they grew into men
Missing out on so much that had mattered.
His wife who he loved always helped him
And a life with new interests grew
He learnt how to read the braille papers
It pleased him he’d still know the news.
But the trauma from the experience scarred him
And ire with politics grew by the day
So he took to his new odd braille keyboard
And wrote articles and letters to complain.
He could sense the new way that the wind blew
In the corridors of power in the House
There was money to be made in new weapons
And politicians ignore those who grouse.
Then again two decades later it started
Another war that would mean more dead men
The obscenity rose like a bile in his throat
So once again he took to his ‘pen’.
©JRW2014
Mar 26, 2014
Mar 26, 2014 at 6:37 PM UTC
Auntie's friend
gave me
a cheese sandwich
I sat on
an old settee with it
her daughter Elsie
sat at the other end
of the settee
as far from me
as she could get
nibbling at a sandwich
why are you sitting
so far way from Benny?
her mum said
don't want
to sit next to him
Elsie said
you'll sit near Benny
and like it
her mum said
Elsie shifted
nearer to me
with a ******* lemons
sort of face
and nibbled her sandwich
not looking at me
her mum walked back
to the kitchen where
she was talking
to my aunt
what sort of sandwich
have you got?
I asked
bread
she said coldly
but what
is in it?
I said
corned beef
she said
do you like corned beef?
I said
why do you
talk to me
you're worse
than Billy the bird
she said
I like talking to you
I said
I don't like you
talking to me
she said
I ate my sandwich
in silence
for a few moments
what year
were you born?
I said
after swallowing
a bit of sandwich
1946
she said
that is why
I am 5
I nodded
and looked at her
I was born in 1947
in London
I said
that is why
you are 4
she said
she nibbled
more sandwich
Mum said
kids from London
got fleas
she said
a few minutes after
I haven't
I said
you smell of dog
she said
just then Elise’s mum
came in and slapped
Elise’s leg
with her hand
don't be horrible to Benny
I heard you
I nibbled my sandwich
say sorry
her mum said angrily
Elsie looked at her shoes
and mumbled a sorry
her mum walked back
to the kitchen
Elsie rubbed her leg
with her small hand
and looked at the sandwich
in her other hand
didn't mean it
Elsie said
her leg getting red.
Aug 14, 2016
Aug 14, 2016 at 2:47 AM UTC
Auntie took me
to the large hut
where the wives of soldiers
met for tea and a chat
(or gossip)
there was big black stove
in the center of the room
and a big urn
over in the small kitchen
where women were serving
cups of tea and cakes or biscuits
there was a lot of noise
and voices and baby's crying
and a few kids like me
under 5 or 5 years old
there's Milly
Auntie said
so we went over
to where Milly was sitting
with her little daughter Elsie
Auntie and Milly
started talking
and I sat next to Auntie
and Elsie sat
the other side
of her mum Milly
staring at me
why don't you two
go and get a lemonade
or orange juice and biscuits
Milly said
Elsie pulled a face
not with him
she said
don't be daft
Benny's a good boy
now do as you are told
and go get some
drinks and biscuits
Milly said firmly
I looked at Auntie
then at Elsie
all right
Elsie said glumly
and we went across the room
to where women
where serving
yes dearies
the woman said
what can I get you?
I want an orange juice
and biscuit please
Elsie said
you'll have to ask
for yourself
she said to me moodily
the woman got
a small beaker of orange juice
and a biscuit tin
of broken biscuits
and Elsie helped herself
staring at me
I asked the woman
for some lemonade
and a biscuit
and while she
was getting it for me
I said to Elsie
you can around
to my auntie's place
and we can play
with my toy soldiers
she sipped her orange juice
looking at me
the woman gave me
a beaker of lemonade
and I took
a few broken biscuits
in my other hand
and stood looking at Elsie
I don't want to play
with toy soldiers
I'm a girl
girls' play with dolls
and skip
not play with boy's toys
and she walked off
back to where Auntie
and Milly sat talking
and sat down
I stood watching her
I can come and play
with your toys
I said
she frowned at me
boys don't play
with girl's toys
she said
and my doll
doesn't like you
Elsie don't be so horrible
Milly said
if Benny wants to come
and play he will
or you'll get a slap
Elsie frowned
and looked at the floor
she was no more friendlier
than she was before.
Jul 22, 2016
Jul 22, 2016 at 3:34 AM UTC
Auntie said to play
on the black metal balcony
while she gave the flat
a good clean through
Auntie's mutt
was sent out too
and we stood looking out
over the barrack ground
it was a warmish November day
and in the distance
I could hear soldiers marching on gravel
and sergeants bellowing at them
the mutt's ears lifted up
and he made a groaning noise
and Milly(Auntie's friend)
with her daughter Elsie
came up the black metal stairs
at the side of the flats
and along towards us
is your auntie at home Benny?
she said
I looked at her
she was wearing a grey dress
and an old brown coat
her daughter Elsie
stared at me unfriendly
yes
I said
she's spring cleaning the place
o maybe I've come
at a bad time
she said
looking at me
shall I go tell her
you're here?
I said
o if you would
she said
so I went in and told Auntie
and she came out with me
O Milly just having a clean around
you want to come in
for a cup of tea and biscuits
Auntie said
o I don't want to disturb you
while you're busy
Milly said
o I can do it later
come on in
I could do with a chat and tea
Auntie said
the daughter pouted
her small lips
and looked at me
with her small eyes
you stay out there
with Benny
her mother said
do I have to?
Elsie said glumly
yes you do
her mother said
and they went in
and shut the door
the mutt lay down
and closed its eyes
I stared at Elsie
want to play a game?
I said
no
she said
and walked away a few paces
and stared out
at the barrack grounds
I've got a ball
we can play catch with
I said
don't want to play catch
she said in a moaning voice
she gazed at me
I was 5 years old yesterday
and you're still 4 years old
so I'm oldest and so choose
what game to play
if I decide to play at all
I'm nearly 5 years old
I said
don't matter none
because I am 5
and you are not
and so I choose what game
she said glaring at me
I sighed softly
ok what game
do you want to play then?
I said eyeing her features
catch
she said
we'll play catch with the ball
so I went to a box
by the front door
(where the mutt
kept its things)
and took out a rubber ball
and showed it to her
it looks chewed
she said
it's the mutt's ball
I said
it's all I have
she frowned and said
is it wet with dog's slime?
no
I said
it's dry now
she gazed at the ball in my hand
is it clean?
sure it is
give it to me
she said
I gave her the ball
and she wiped it
on her green coat
and looked at it
then she stared at me
guess it will have to do
she said moodily
if it goes over the balcony
she said
you'll have to go get it
she added
I looked at her
white ankle socks
and black battered shoes
and hair in ribbons
ok
I said with a smile
but she didn't smile back
soldiers still marched
and sergeants bellowed
and the sky
looked black.
Dec 11, 2015
Dec 11, 2015 at 3:25 AM UTC
I threw Dancer's ball
and he ran off to fetch it,
when Auntie's friend's
daughter, Elsie, stood
on the grass the other
side of the parade ground
watching me, arms folded.
Dancer ran back with his ball.
What you doing? Elsie said.
Throwing Dancer's ball, I said,
why did you want to play too?
She stared at me: play at what?
She said. Play with the ball; we
could play catch, I said. With
that wet ball where the dog's
wet mouth has dribbled on it,
she said, pulling a face. Dancer
held the ball in his mouth looking
at me, waiting for me to take it
and throw it again. Elsie crossed
the parade ground(the soldiers
were elsewhere) and stood in
front of me. I’m going to school
after the holiday, she said, I am 5
and Mum said it times for me
to go. I stared at her. Dancer
dropped his ball looking at us.
Where about is the school? I said.
Aldershot of course, she said.
I’ll miss seeing you about, I said.
She said nothing at first, but
looked at Dancer, then she said:
he'll miss you when you go back
home to London; expect your
auntie will too, but I won't though,
she said, looking at me. I nodded
my head, and picked up Dancer's
ball and threw it over into the grass.
She stared at me and sighed: I will
miss you, she said to me, I lied.
Nov 30, 2016
Nov 30, 2016 at 2:57 PM UTC
Go sit outside
in the sun,
Auntie said,
don't be stuck inside
on a day like this.
So I went outside
and sat
on the black
iron steps
leading down
the stairs
from the balcony.
Dancer Auntie's dog
sat beside me
his chin
on my shoulder
wetting my shirt.
The parade grounds
were on my right,
sergeants
were barking orders
to soldiers marching below.
I stared at them:
heads turned,
arms straight as irons.
Then Elsie,
Auntie's friend's daughter,
came up the stairs,
one foot at a time,
her small hand
gripping the black
iron rail coming up.
I watched her
stepping towards me,
her head downwards.
Dancer growled;
hush,
I said,
raising a finger.
He groaned,
watching as the girl paused.
She looked at me:
why is he here?
She said,
pointing at the dog.
He's protecting me,
I said.
From me?
She said.
Guess so,
I said.
Send him away,
she said.
Dancer groaned;
go lie down Dancer,
I said.
He got up
and walked along
the black iron balcony,
and sat
by the back door.
Elsie eyed me,
then walked up
the remaining steps:
Mum said
I had come
play with you,
Elsie said,
looking down at me
as I sat.
Do you want to?
I said.
If I have to,
she said,
sitting down
beside me
on the step.
If I don't
I'll get a slap,
she added,
looking at me.
What you want
to play?
I asked.
She looked out
at the soldiers
marching below:
what is there
to play?
Have you dolls?
No no dolls,
I replied,
we can ball
if you like.
She pulled
a face:
boring ball games,
she said.
I can get one
of my toy guns
and we can play
cowboys and cowgirls,
I said.
Boring boys' game,
she replied.
What do you
want to play?
I asked.
We could play
hide and seek,
she said,
you hide
and I won't seek you.
I looked at her
5 year old face
with my 4 year old eyes.
Let's ask Auntie
for some milk
and biscuit,
I said,
and listen to the radio.
She nodded
her head
and we got up
and she said:
let's go.
Sep 20, 2016
Sep 20, 2016 at 3:24 PM UTC