Tag: great war
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Inner City Oldtime
Our own tongue throat stranger And failing to nourish will or may perish We pause, wishing to answer betters in Irish Cannot know a lost language Vanishes, we answer in English Less than swill of which our Liffey consists. What is Irishness What is native wit? Slack jaws guffawing Slenting houses built from haunted bricks…
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Bombs in Billets
Mr Burke from Battersea has an early start Up with larks, ensuring binmen do their jobs If you spy him circuiting the park he is warden of, and try stalking past him He will shout as if you had not seen him and were keen to stop and talk He bellows about battle Overseas retreats…
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Battle Knackered
Cattle cattle cattle Years of battle A decade waging a pro-war campaign, sabre-rattling zealots at last touch down on the frontline Meeting the chain death of rises lipped by gatlings Skulls in a line, as would dot tribal idols’ feet Slumped dead along ratlines east of the Seine, rivalling rubbish for scent Spent shell wreckage…
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March Never Ends
On the march Marsh surrounds the marches My banners like separated arches rise high My forces marshalled, my powers Martian Power in the bowl when bull blood splashes in. On the March, the end of March April pulling in, Spring’s pulled pin Explodes in coloured sequin, printemps decoration fine as Cicero’s oration None of the…
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Divine Dawn Vimy Ridge
Marching with the rank and file Third trench Christmas, it’s all lasting a while. Curios whittled on frontlines and letters from home on a table in a pile Songs with similar airs performed in curious varied style Sitting on hard benches, itchy bunioned with asses piled Slapped knees and all at ease, dancing between the…
Alchemisland 