Cease Fire
For one full day we got to stop the business
Of trying to kill each other. We could stand,
And leave the trench, and meet in no-man's-land
To wish the other side a Merry Christmas.
One Hun pulled out a flask, gave me a drink –
I shared my smokes – we played a few card tricks,
Then showed our wives' and kids' and girly pics,
Said "Aww", and did the old nudge-nudge-wink-wink.
I saw a thing I never thought I'd see –
In different coloured clothes, a man like me –
And now I understand that man's my brother;
But understanding just compounds the crime,
For now I hear the sergeant's call: It's time
To go back out and try to kill each other.
~~
George J. Dance, 2018
from Logos, and other logoi, 2021
[All rights reserved - used with permission]
George J. Dance biography
[All rights reserved - used with permission]
George J. Dance biography
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