Remember them this Christmas
They may be American, British, Canadian or a dozen other nationalities.
They do these things in our name. To them it's a job but a calling too.
The least we can do is remember them.
I write a verse a day
© Roger Macdivitt
Dawn appeared like a crack in the curtain
As if an unseen hand had lifted the horizon
Light seemed to slide from the centre South and North
Like quicksilver on marble
Unstoppable, rapid and scattered
.
Oh No, It’s not today already?
Yesterday I was excited
You see, we succeed at night, they struggle
It’s not just the equipment, it’s the training
Ok, now it’s daylight, that means we move again
.
This is when we’re vulnerable
That innocent truck or van
Parked next to the road
Is it result of breakdown, poor maintenance?
Or is it stuffed full of physical hatred
.
We have some brave or maybe stupid guys
They check out these things for us
Proud of their work, protecting us
How do they ever do that job?
Who is maddest them or their wives for waiting
.
Yes, they have wives and kids these guys
Wives who are probably innocently shopping at this minute
Pretending that he’s just doing a job somewhere
Knowing that many of his friends came home
Some came home I pieces or just as a name
.
We rely on each other
No,”Every man for himself here”
We know, “Go it alone and you’ll never go home”
Sticking together, that’s the way
Working as one, watching each others backs
.
These local folk are not like we were told
Sure, they welcome us, but there’s suspicion
We are to blame as well, we mistrust too
The guy that offers you water today
He may well offer you a shroud tomorrow
.
Make friends, win them over?
But how? Through the kids
Only last week Joe was evaporated
Blown away by the kid he played football with
Both died, Did they go to the same God together?
.
God? God? It’s nearly Christmas
Some of our guys are Muslims and they’re ok
They muck-in with us at Christmas
We make sure that they get their time to pray
Give and take, it works
.
What did they do in past wars?
I mean, no mobiles phones?
We only get to use them sometimes
Makes sense, protect our positions
Wouldn’t want to advertise
.
My friends are great
There here to do a job as well
Yeah, that’s what it is, a job
It gets a little heavy sometimes like most jobs
.
Nights are very different
Some nights we get good sleep
That’s if we’re not on guard duty
But we are better equipped at night
That gives us confidence
.
The endless drills we learnt
Boring, boring, boring
But now, now I know
I know my gun will operate
I know it’s every detail
.
We tease and get teased
Like, “Easy job being a cook”, ha ha
Next day he’s fighting alongside of me
Watching my backl
Couldn’t work without him, cook or warrior
.
Those bomb disposal guys again
They’re nuts
They’ve gotta be
Couldn’t do it otherwise
Selfless, focussed nuts
.
Today’s a hard one
House to house stuff
Incoming was very heavy earlier
All suffering, long day.
Too close for comfort, twice
.
How many times can you read one letter?
Can’t say much in letters
But this one smells of her
Three bloody weeks to get here
It still smells of her
.
I get a pint of beer sometimes
I get a game of pool too
I even get a pie, but
Never together, not like at home
A beer, a pie and some pool, I can dream
.
Can’t tell where we’re going
Don’t really know anyway
Heard a load of choppers yesterday
Something big going down here
Ah, moving out now
.
Never know who or what next?
Ok, so I got a sore eye
My fault, forget drill sometimes
Dave did last week
He’s not with us now, such a waste
.
I write a verse a day
My pals think I’m a screwball
Yesterday was rough
We lost three, not dead though
Badly shot up, sordid mess
.
God, we've been holed up here for days
Couldn't write my verses but quiet now
No sleep, just naps, so much to think about
We're cut off, surrounded
If I get to write another verse I'll
.
..............................................................................