The Price we pay (A trilogy)

The Journalist

A husband a son

A mortar a gun

A landscape that cannot forgive

A hidden life taker

A cruel widow maker

A death for our right to live

A mother a daughter

Face down in the water

Whose crime was to stand in the way

And from deep in a hole

Some war hungry mole

Decided it’s a small price to pay
A man with a book

And a twisted outlook

Sent the code out to our distant lands

This woke up the sleepers

Indiscriminate death keepers

And then he washed his hands

This cold Tuesday morning

Without conscience or warning

A plume took its hold on the sky

A blast mangled station

Acute devastation

The relatives break down and cry

The Cynic

An old sergeant major

A hero I’ll wager

Decides that it’s time we dug in

He gives the command

Points to some other land

Says now push off and bring me a win
A general with stars

And armoured staff cars

Watches dots on computerised skies

With one flick of the wrist

Ten more men don’t exist

But he's sure they were wonderful guys

Somewhere out east

A tyrannical beast

Uses scripture to strike up the band

They don’t read our writing

Get out there start fighting

And get back my once sacred land

The Warrior

I’ll stand up and fight

I’ve a true sense of right

Your future is safe in my hands

I’m fit and I’m able

And mentally stable

To strike down the foe down where he stands

I’m ready for orders

For fanatic marauders

And keen to restore status quo

I’m loaded with pride

As I wait for my ride

To employ all the skills that I know

A skewed view of the night

Through an infrared sight

Using method all trusted and tried

A cafe a school

No hard and fast rule

All places for snipers to hide

I park up the armour

Watch Mac the charmer

As he tries to establish rapport

He gleans information

A local train station

Could house who we’re all looking for

A perimeter laid

A gunshot grenade!

A barrage of fire from the tracks

All frenzy and rush

A god damn ambush

Find cover before th -

With the greatest of respect Lee
Remember those who gave and those yet to give