The Great Trust (1914-1918 Sonnet)

What little knew they of god, as on they marched.
For death or glory, they felt well equipped.
Yet heat of battle, roundly found them parched;
the cup of life still full and barely sipped.
It was then creations’ king was brought to fore,
alliance questioned; affirmation sought,
amongst the screams and bloody spattered gore,
that on the side of righteousness they fought.

And when the book of fate did so decree,
that their short story must [untimely] cease
I pray that in the midst of deaths’ debris,
that heralds led them to eternal peace.
The past remains unchanged and so it must;
it’s the future, for their sake, we keep in trust.