One minute

One minute

They say the war will end today.
Years of futile fighting.
No more guns
No more gas
No more stinking trenches.
No more trembling fear.
No more pals to lose their lives.

Eleven o’clock they say
We can lay down our guns
And start our journey home.
I have survived, too many dead.
An officer approaches
Go over the top lad
Collect that gun
It’s ten fifty five.

Five minutes and it’s over.
Up I climb
Three minutes
Two minutes
A shot rings out
One minute
I am no more
The last of the dead.
Remember me