Remembrance

My grandfather fought

in the “war to end all wars”,

and celebrated the first armistice

as a prisoner of war.

This “solemn day of remembrance”

became years of remembering, as at the

end of his life, he relived his time in prison camp.


That first great war did not end all wars,

our young men and women still die overseas

in wars that we don’t understand. How many of

the survivors will live out their lives, unwillingly

remembering combat; comrades lost in battle, the fear,

loneliness and danger – trying to cope in times of peace

with skills honed for battle. As age wearies them, will they

be condemned to fight once again for peace in their own lives?