REMEMBER

The guns spat flame and bullets flew

flesh ripped from bodies in withering fire

shells rained down, in fury blew

bodies in smithereens against the wire

that rowed the mud of battlefield

where men lay dying in blood and gore

tin helmets lying, a flimsy shield

from the bullets of death and they breathed no more

Lungs gasping for breath in smoke filled air

some others gasping would be their last

body parts dismembered lying here and there

blood watered the mud after the deadly blast

some they died in the desert sand

lives nearly as many as the countless grain

screams and yells echoing over the Godless land

in the killing fields that were insane

Diving and twisting in the clouded sky

engines screaming as iron birds raced

higher than where eagles dared to fly

brave pilots in cockpits sat encased

traces of fire, strings of burning lead

ripped fuselage asunder of the spinning plane

and a young pilot's eyes filled with horror and dread

for he knew death was certain and escape was in vain

The timeless waters of vast ocean and sea

lapped many a sinking ship with her restless waves

where the seagulls above winged away free

and cried over sailors in their watery graves

o wars cruel wars that brought misery and sorrow

with our poppies red we gather again this November

to honour those who give their today for our tomorrow

for the sacrifice of their giving we will always remember

Colin Moffett

WHEN DID I TELL YOU TO REMEMBER ME

Where did I say in my word

Celebrate my lowly birth

Decorate your homes with Christmas trees

Have parties full of mirth

When did I ever tell you

To replace me with another

I know you call him Santa Claus

You can speak his name no bother

Take you children to see him

Promise them gifts galore

If they are very good

They will have what they want and more

No wonder you put a great big X

Where my name should be

Or even call it a holiday

For you dare not mention me

O yes I came in lowly birth

My angels announced it to a few

But if I had not come to die

My birth was no good to you

If I had not shed my precious blood

But had lived then returned to whence I came

A babe, a child then a man not dying

There would be no salvation in my name

But I never told you to remember me

Lying in a bed of straw

But to remember my awful death

When I fulfilled God's holy law

I give you bread to break

To remember my body broken

And ruby red wine to drink

To remember my blood, a token

Yet you would rather remember me

In a lowly stable stall

Or even worse than that

Replace me with Santa Claus and not remember me at all!

Colin Moffett