SOLDIER.

In the station, in the City, A British Soldier stood

Talking to the people there, If the people would

Some just stared in hatred, And others turned in pain

And the lonely British Soldier, Wished he was back home again

Come join the British Army, Said the posters in his town

See the World and have your fun, Come serve before the Crown

The jobs were hard to come by, And he could not face the dole

So he took his Countries Shilling, And enlisted on the role

But, there was no fear of fighting, The empire long was lost

Just ten years in the Army, Getting paid for being bossed

Then leave a man experienced, A man whos made the grade

A medal and a pension, Some memories and a trade

Then come the call to Ireland, As the call had come before

Another bloody chapter, In an endless civil war

The Priests they stood on both sides, The Priests they stood behind

Another fight in Jesus name, The blind against the blind

The Soldier stood between them, Between the whistling stones

And then the broken bottles, That lead to broken bones

The petrol bombs that burned his hands, The nails that pierced his skin

And wished he'd stayed at home, Surrounded by his kin

The station filled with people, The soldier soon was bored

But, better in the station, Than where the people warred

The room filled up with mothers, With daughters and with sons

Who starred with itchy fingers, At the soldier and his guns

A yell of fear, The screech of brakes, A shattering of glass

The window of the station, Broke to let the package pass

A scream came from the Mothers

As they ran towards the door, Dragging children crying

From the bomb upon the floor, The soldier stood

And could not move, His gun he could not use

He knew the bomb had seconds and not minutes on the fuse

He could not run to pick it up, And throw it in the street

There were far too many people there, Too many running feet

"Take cover" yelled the soldier, "Take cover" for your lives

And the irishmen throw down their young, And stood before their wives

They turned towards the Soldier, Their eyes alive with fear

For God's sake save our children, or their end there short lives here

The Soldier moved towards the bomb, his stomach like a stone

Why? Was this his Battle God, Why was he alone?

He lay down on the package, and he murmured one farewell

To those at home in England, to those he loved so well

He saw the sights of summer, felt the wind upon his brow

The young girls in the city parks, how precious were they now

The soaring of the Swallow, the beauty of the Swan

The music of the turning Earths, so soon it would be gone

A muffled soft explosion, and the room began to quake

The Soldier blown across the floor, His blood a crimson lake

They never heard Him cry or shout, they never heard Him moan

And they turned their children's faces from the blood and from the bone

The crowds outside soon gathered, and the Ambulances came

To carry of the body of a pawn lost in a game

And the crowd they clapped and jeered and they sang their rebel songs

One Soldier less to interfere where he did not belong

But will the children growing up learn at their mothers knee

The story of the Soldier who brought their liberty

Who used his youthful body, as a means towards the end

Who gave His life to those who called Him murderer not friend.....

Harvey Andrews, 1972.

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