POETRY: Homage to the Brave

by Rod Butterworth, Rochdale

Names across the heavens ride
Of men and women, who, with pride
Wore uniforms and died
In wars that scarred so many lands,
History tells, memorials stand,
In tribute with the ‘’lat post’’ bands.
The sombre tones of brass and drum
Fall upon the ears of some
Who grieve their loss but also come
Frustrated by their loss but also come
Frustrated by their saddened thoughts,
That as these wars were bravely fought
There was no lasting peace e’er brought.
Young men and women are today
Uniformed and on their way
To wars that rage, and some will pay
As did their mums and dads years gone,
Their names appearing one by one
Stone-chiselled as their war goes on.
The seeds of peace will never grow
When nations face up toe to toe or rebels defy the status quo.
If it were said ‘’no not again’’
And peace at last could worldly reign
Lives lost would not have been in vane.
But to today there seems no end
To freedoms threatened, and so we send
Those trained in service to defend.
Do we support them? Yes, we must,
For we believe their mums and dads years gone,
Their names appearing one by one
Stone-chiselled as their war goes on.
The seeds of peace will never grow
When nations face up toe
Or rebels deft the status quo.
If it were said ‘’no not again’’
And peace at last could worldly reign
lives lost would not have been in vain.