DAVID CAMERON FINISHES THE NAZIS WORK

ALONE

A poem about a homeless soldier on the streets of the UK

ALONE

The soldier was alone and frightened
He wished his comrades were with him now
Hardly breathing for fear that they could hear his heart beat
Why has it ended like this?
His body pressed harder and deeper into his cold dark hiding place
They were getting closer
Shaking with cold and terror he said a prayer
Please do not forsake me now God
This must be the end
They were almost upon him
He could smell their breath
He could hear someone taking a piss
A cigarette butt landed by his head
There were at least three of them
He had no weapons
Laying like a corpse it was unbearable
How can they not see him trembling?
Then they were gone
He let out his breath
Quietly sobbing he felt his crutch was warm
He had pissed himself
I miss my family and friends
I miss my Regiment and the lads
The soldier ate a rotting apple core he found
He pulled another piece of cardboard over his thin body
Exhaustion overcame him and he fell asleep
Another homeless veteran on the streets of Britain in 2010

©  Tony McNally

FROM HERO TO ZERO

Shuffling down the street trying to keep warm
The water was in his sock now, his boots had seen better days
As he had many moons ago when bristling with pride and youth
Now hunched against a railway bridge his collar chaffed his neck
Smiling down at him a David Cameron poster promising him a future
Laughing he coughed up phlegm and spat it at the face
Trying to stand pain shot up his spine
His mind propelled back in time
Top cover in Basra a road side bomb `BANG` it all went black
Rain lashed the veteran’s face as he limped into the emptiness
Looking back at the phlegm he giggled like he did in the block
"Shot Over," "Splash Over" he was happy for a while.

© Tony McNally

The Gurkhas face the axe

Its seems like winning their victory on pension rights and being able to settle in the UK may in the end cost the Gurkhas  dearly. I’m obviously biased when it comes to these Bravest of the Brave loyal servants of Britain for the last 200 years and fought alongside them in the 1982 Falklands War, where the very mention of these warriors from Nepal brought terror to the Argentine  invaders. The psychological value alone is worth its weight on gold on the battlefield. In my opinion these soldiers are the most cost effective in the whole of the British Army, they would willingly do the job of two of their British brothers without complaint and a smile on their faces. In pure economic reasons the axing of the Gurkhas would be extremely bad business for Britain and our Armed Forces. I just wonder if the recent news of a  Gurkha solder beheading a Taliban fighter may have had some influence on any Government decision? I know one thing if the UK saved all the money they have handed out to Asylum seekers and legal aid we would have enough money for several Brigades Of Gurkhas and a fleet of new aircraft carriers, carriers that are looking less likely to be built in light of the latest news of to share new carriers with France Its easy to forget but Gordon Brown and the Labour party are responsible for the mess we have been left with and I’m sure which ever big rock he has crawled under in Scotland he will have a big grin on his face at the damage he has inflicted upon our Armed Forces and the whole Country. The jury is well and truly out on Cameron.