Poetry

The soldier stood and faced God,
Which must always come to pass.
He hoped his shoes were shining,
just as brightly as his brass.’

Step forward now, you soldier,
how shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To My Church have you been true?

‘The soldier squared his shoulders and said,
‘No, Lord, I guess I am not.
Because those of us who carry guns,
Can’t always be a saint.

I’ve had to work most Sundays,
and at times my talk was tough.
And sometimes I’ve been violent,
because the world is awfully rough.

But, I never took a penny,
that wasn’t mine to keep…
Though I worked a lot of overtime,
when the bills got just too steep.

And I never passed a cry for help,
though at times I shook with fear.
And sometimes, God, forgive me,
I’ve wept unmanly tears.

I know I don’t deserve a place,
among the people here.
They never wanted me around,
except to calm their fears.

If you’ve a place for me here, Lord,
It needn’t be so grand.
I never expected or had too much,
but if you don’t, I’ll understand.

There was a silence all around the throne,
where the saints had often trod.
As the soldier waited quietly,
for the judgment of his God.

‘Step forward now, you soldier,
you’ve borne your burdens well.
Walk peacefully on Heaven’s streets;
you’ve done your time in Hell.’

Author Unknown~

I found this morning unaware
At the bottom of my garden there
Is a wasted corner bare,
A Blood Red Poppy flowering there.

In silence I stood a while to stare
And murmured low the softest prayer,
My saddened heart was full of care
For the slender poppy smiling there:

And down the bank a few feet near
The whitest daisy growing there
As if the world had shed a tear
For a soldier hero lying there:

And just beyond the garden wall
A thousand poppies growing tall
Among a field of purest tears
Shed for other Grenadiers,

While in my garden grows alone
A Blood Red Poppy of my own.

Poem By Dr R V Whitlock.