A Letter to an unknown soldier

A Letter to an unknown soldier

Were you the laughing, cheerful boy
Who once sat playing with his toys
Of War; the soldiers made of lead –
An old tin-helmet on his head?

Were you the round-faced, freckled pal
Of Mick and Tommy, Ben and Al –
The noisy gang who used to meet
And rampage, daily, on our street?

Were you the brother of the lad
Who in your cast-off clothes was clad –
The hand-me-downs once viewed with scorn;
Now treasured keepsakes, old and torn?

Were you the tall, good-looking youth
Who stood with me; admired the view
On moonlit nights, across the fields –
Our vows of love with kisses sealed?

Were you the brave, young, new recruit;
In uniform and polished boots
Who led my inner-pride to swell –
Whilst bidding him a last farewell?

Were you the weeping woman’s son
Who clasped the telegram and hung
Her head; to hide the flowing tears
She’d held inside, ‘mid hidden fears?

Were you the corpse found in a trench,
Amid the putrid, rotten stench
Of bodies laying in the mud;
A mass of flesh and crusted blood?

Were you the lonely, frightened man
Now buried in a distant land;
An unmarked grave dug crude and rough?
To an Unknown Soldier –
Sent with love!