That may sound rather an over dramatic, sweeping statement but it did.
We were studying World War 1, which has left me with a devotion and passion for the war poets to this day. As we walked along the actual trenches of the Somme and visited the endless fields of graves, we were all struck by the waste of all those young lives.
Of course back then, as a bunch of idealistic 17 year olds, we were going to change the world. Some of our number wore white poppies for peace along with the blood red poppies of remembrance. After two Gulf wars, the conflict in Afghanistan, 9/11 and the London Tube bombings I doubt they do now.
Now peace seems like a luxury. Remembrance is a necessity. In my eyes anyway.
On Sunday, when I chatted to a friend on Twitter who was actually there on that field trip I suddenly remembered a poem I wrote some years later about the experience.
Yes you heard correctly. A poem.
I haven't written much poetry over the years but occasionally the mood takes me. I have never shared any of it with anyone before. Ever. But somehow this feels right and sums up how I felt then and now.
And yes we really did have Kate Bush The Whole Story playing on the tape deck of the coach and Army Dreamers came on just as we first saw the fields of graves. I also did fall arse over tit in a trench and get covered in mud!
So here it is. Wear your poppy with pride.
ARMY DREAMERS
Have you been there?
Have you seen it?
Did you trip up in a trench?
Did you laugh your teenage
socks off?
Cos you couldn’t smell the
stench.
Playing Kate Bush “Army
Dreamers’
As the coach went passing by
Then we saw the fields of endless
graves
And we all began to cry.
Now I’ll always buy a Poppy
To commentate their fate
And remind me how we stood
there
Sobbing tears at Menin Gate.
Just a bunch of idealistic
kids
But when the truth was told
The facts are bigger than
ideals
And make your blood run
cold.
The boys who died at just 16
The husbands, fathers, sons
Sent out to meet their
slaughter
Ready with their guns.
The endless names on massive tombs,
The endless lines of graves.
Babies ripped from mother’s
wombs,
And not one we could save.
Buried where they’ve fallen
It’s more than just a shame
The hopeless sense of
heartbreak
For graves without a name.
And when we crossed the
channel
We’d still hear their battle
call
We’d all returned much
altered
But they’d not come back at
all.
So I always buy a poppy
To commemorate the dead
And say thank you to the
living
With “Army Dreamer’s in my
head.
