#mudandsteel
By LongJohn
I’ve never been much for churches,
but I’ve said a few prayers
in the rain,
in the dark,
and once or twice
with my face in the mud
wondering what the hell
I’d done with my life.
So, here’s a gunner’s prayer —
plain,
unpolished,
and true.
Keep the lads steady,
the sights clean,
and the Number One calm
when the world starts shaking.
Keep the layer sharp,
the loader quick,
and the signaller awake
even when he swears, he is.
Keep the rounds dry,
the fuses honest,
and the gun behaving herself
long enough to do the job.
And when the smoke settles
and the echoes fade,
keep us humble enough
to remember why we’re here
and who we stand beside.
If there’s mercy to spare,
give it to the young ones —
they’ve got more to lose
and less to hide behind.
As for the rest of us,
we’ll take whatever comes
with the same stubborn pride
that’s carried the regiment
from the first gun fired
to the last.
Amen,
or whatever word
a gunner uses
when he means it.
Feb 8
Feb 8, 2026 at 7:50 AM UTC