THEY CALLD ME A COWERDE! (WORLD WAR ONE)
I were takeing a stroll , not thinking of out at allMinding me own business
When two woman , one but a girl of my own age , there abouts
Came up ter me , started right at me
I were takeing back , by what they said
They askde me: '' why aint you at the front wif the boys?''
'' Lady's , I am only seventeen! '' , '' I'm to young to join up ''
'' Yea! '' , '' Heard , that before aint me , Doris '' , '' Yea , Gert , we 'ave that! ''
'' Aint nofing but a cowered! '' , Doris , said to Gert
'' When I am of the right age , I will join the boys at the front '' , '' Just wait and see
if , I dont ''
Wif that they came right ter me , I was finking they were goner hit me
Well men dont hit woman let alone girls , well you dont do you!
When first , the one called Gert , pushed somert up me left nostril , Doris , then
Pushed somert up me right nostril
The girls giggled , locked arms and walked away
I felt the need to sneeze , I took out me 'ankey , and gave out a mighty sneeze
I looked in to me 'ankey , to see , two white feathers!
I felt ashamed , embarrassed , decided there and then to join up
Next day , Monday , I went strait to where they were recruiting , lied abut be me age , they never ask for prove
Told me to strip , somert I'd not do in front of me mum!
They gave me a rough and ready medical , checked my height , chest it were regulation when all puffer out , and me down stairs parts they check out to!
Before I know it I were in the army , with in three months , I were trained ready , for the front
Six months later , I were sat on a park bench on the sea front looking out to sea
Across the sea was France , the sound of the guns could be heard , like distant
Thunder
As I sat , two girls came walking up , sat down , gossiping , about not anything at all , yes it were Gert and Doris , who else could they be!
One , Gert , I think it were , said , '' good afternoon , to me ''
'' Aye , fore some it is '' I said wif somert implied in my voice
'' You dont remember me do you Gert and Doris? ''
'' No , why should we? '' , said Doris
I pulled my army hospital blanket closer around my leg
'' Think back six months , Get and Doris '' , '' Remember a boy of seventeen? ''
'' The boy you called a cowered? '' , '' And pushed up two white feathers up his nose?
'' Well that boy were me! '' , all the time I kept me left side to them , face , scraped almost to the bone , showing to Gert and Doris
Just then me chum , Sid , returned: '' You alright , Charley? ''
'' See you pulled , to girls! '' , he grind , '' one of them fer me's , Charley? ''
'' Na , we're better off with out 'em , chum! ''
Gert and Doris , were offended , and made that clear , tut-tutting and that kind of thing
'' Right Charley, lets get you back '' , Sid , had me wheelchair , ready for me
He took me blanket of my knees , manhandled me in ter the wheelchair
As he did so , Gert and Doris , look at me
Doris asked me: '' What happonde to you? ''
'' Why , you and Gert happonde to me! '' , '' think back six months ago ''
'' Joined up , six months later , I were blown up by a shell , lost all I had on my
left side '' , '' Left side of my face , left arm , left leg , And so much else ''
'' Including me manhood '' , '' All thanks to you! ''
I stood up as best I could. I showed 'em me face , no left eye , just a 'ole ,
Wif skin covering whear me left eyes used ter be. Me face , like raw pork , half a 'ole , that used to be me mouth , of course no left ear , a loose coat jacket sleve
No left arm to prevent it from flapping in the breeze. Left trouser leg pined , no fleshy leg to fill it.
'' I trust you are both happy and satisfied '' ,'' 'er's them white feathers , you gave me , recon they properly belong to the two of you '' '' the blood on 'em is mine ,somert for you to remember me , and that day you gave 'em to me! ''
They looked shamefaced
Doris said to Sid '' your friend is so rude '' , '' Rude you say'' , said Sid some what baffled , said '' Charley , aint been able to say a word , since the shell took away his tonge and all the rest of what he had down one side. That was at Wipers (Ypres).
With that me and Sid , went. We heard , 'om , vomiting! And we both went on our way.
Ken D Williams
The Dyslexic Wordsmith Of Thanet
Poetry by ken d williams
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Written on 2014-03-15 at 22:18
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