Then God Bless You

If you’ve sat where I sit

And watch cannon smoke

Diffuse through the tree branches

And grow deaf

With each fiery blast

Inhaling burnt powder

And cordite

Then God bless you.

If you’ve stood shoulder to shoulder

Fixing glittering bayonets

And wishing you were

Anywhere but here

And every cell in your body

Seeks to fly away

Far, far away

And anywhere but here

Then God bless you.

If you’ve ever wondered

Why you cannot feel the earth

Beneath your feet

And the entire bloody field

Seems to fall away

Like you’re viewing the whole battle

From some cloudy height

And all you want is

Water and time

Just time and water

Then God bless you.

If you’ve ever wondered

If your girl

Or your folks back home

Remember you

Or think of you

Whether they fear for you

And await your imminent return?

If you believe the snake that curls

Deep in your throat

Behind your tongue

Is fear

Then God bless you.

God bless you

When your bowls loose

Your stomach heaves

God bless you

When you wipe

The blood and brains

Of your friend from your face

And, at that moment caught yourself

Begging for your mother.

Yes,

God bless you, sir.