15 August 2013

Gentle Tales (rev)

 

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The weary Gunner Sergeant said
“Come walk with me, there is no
need you older soldiers have to
crawl through scrubby weeds”.

We were easily lead; and while we
walked he told us gentle tales about
his kids instead of gory soldier stories.

He asked me where I’d want to be
in twenty years. I was gamely stuck in
simple thought, didn’t need to think
about it over much.

I replied, “Sir, I rather hope that I’m
not dead, but telling soldiers what
you’ve said”.
© I.D. Carswell, 1978

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