OLD YOUNG MEN

I saw you smile

But it didn’t hide the fear in your eyes

Checking our weapons again

No nasty surprise

Thumbs up and you were gone

In the mist the chopper did rise

Will we meet again?

Nobody knows

Then it was my turn

Off to War we go

Both of us young men

A soldier no doubt

This was our moment

In the Chopper I shout

“If I die in a combat Zone

Box me up and send me home”

When the guns fell silent

We met again

Not recognising each other

As bearded skinny old men

Our smiles had gone

A different look in our eyes

No hugs or handshakes

Nervously still staring at the skies

We did our duty

Made it through

Two young old men

The class of 82.

 © Tony McNally

(RG) During the Falklands War I left my best mate and went to War, at the end of the fighting we both met up again in the Capital Stanley, we were filthy bearded and had lost so much weight we didn’t recognise each other.