death in battle- or - loves salvation

fire in the trenches, blood guts and gore
they used to be my friends, my brothers, now they are no more
i dont how to cope with this, the noise, the smell, the fear
every minute that i stay, is knowing my end draws near
i start to shake all over, a sob i try to stifle
my legs they turn to jelly, my only strength, my rifle
i lean on it and close my eyes and try to catch a breath
of air that isnt saturated with the bitter stench of death
i feel my body closing down, to protect me from this sound
where is all the joy and peace, i fear its gone to ground
my mind begins to wander back to place of time
when summer laughter filled the air a place i knew was mine
a little house in yorkshire, a step from bubbling stream
pulled my thoughts back to her, oh god how real they seem
its like a different world i find myself upon
if i make it back to her my love is hers thereon
whatever is this war about im sure ill never know
im terrified i will not move when i hear that whistle blow
now the silence falls the guns have gone to sleep
even cries from injured soldiers have slowed to slient weep
the silence is so loud, defening to me,
i hear my own heart beating the time is here i see
the captain raise his hand, his lips are pursed to blow
then looking at his watch, he lets the column know
scrambling to get a foothold on the ladder up the mud
i hope my aim is true my feet find footing good
for now i need my angel her wings wrapped round me tight
i need her strength her courage for now its time to fight
i only get 2 yards before i see the flash of fire
machine guns open up flaming horizontal spire
everythings gone silent as i am standing all alone
i see no men around me, is it over, did they go home
all i see is mist and mud, parts of men guts and blood
everythings seems peaceful as i look around in awe
is this really battle am i really in a war
not what id expected, it seems a lonley place
to be standing inbetween great guns pointing in my face
just then i see a bright light coming down from a dark cloud
the death and noise has gone, the light blankets like a shroud
such a warmth inside me, i feel drawn upwards like a dove
its seems not even war can stifle heavens love

c.d.lee