AusVarmint

PAID BY INSTALLMENTS
A soldier pays for battles past in a myriad of ways
one thing is sure there is a price that every soldier pays
Some veterans say the ones who died are lucky to a man
for the others suffer many years, the war gods payment plan

Young men in their prime of life, it is they who fight our wars
with promises of glory they will rally to the cause
while governments all promise that their deaths are not in vain
the survivors join the payment plan when peace is here again

Their youth is their deposit, non refundable of course
theyre told the enemy is evil and he must be met with force
on each side of the battle is the plain and simple truth
it is old men who declare the war, the rest left to the youth

Repayments due are taken by the war gods at their whim
yet a soldier never knows when they will take their cut from him
it may be in a battle where his body takes the pain
or hidden deep for many years to resurface once again

Repayments fall at intervals throughout a soldiers life
estranging him from family, his children and his wife
it may be at the battles end when he has time to dwell
or the horrors that will lurk within of which he cannot tell

The darkness brings the memories, the faces and the sights
and wake him from his slumber, these repayments fall each night
these memories will haunt him every day that he draws breath
He will make his final payment and finally find his peace in death

Very dark but thank you for posting this Mick

Well written.

Nice piece, certainly makes one think.

I would think line 6 would need to be changed. Don't know that many who have served but I bet the promise of glory wasn't the reason for them or many many more like them. Duty, loyalty, many better words could be found.

Thanks for your service.

Hope you are free the weekend we discussed.

Thanks Mick.

Has anyone ever wondered where "The Ode" comes from?

For the Fallen

With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,
England mourns for her dead across the sea.
Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,
Fallen in the cause of the free.

Solemn the drums thrill: Death august and royal
Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres.
There is music in the midst of desolation
And a glory that shines upon our tears.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

They mingle not with their laughing comrades again;
They sit no more at familiar tables at home;
They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;
They sleep beyond England's foam.

But where our desires are and our hopes profound,
Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,
To the innermost heart of their own land they are known
As the stars are known to the Night;

As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust,
Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain,
As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness,
To the end, to the end, they remain.

Laurence Binyon (1869–1943)

An appropriate reminder.
Thanks Mick.

Bruce

From 2008

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kX_3y3u5Uo

If that doesn't bring a tear to your eyes you have no feelings.
Cheers
Ol 55

Just taking a moment while in between meetings today.

Thanks to everyone who has served, are still serving and to those who have passed.

I am grateful for the free country we live in today.

Ryan

LEST WE FORGET

The Ode and the reply we all know. Yet despite this, looking at the world and governments everywhere, I think we may have forgotten exactly what their sacrifice gave us and why we should be protecting their legacy.

Well said Rabbits, I feel you've hit the nail on the head.

Tim


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