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Poetry
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| Too Young | |
| By Talisker | ||||||||||||
| 02 October 2006 | ||||||||||||
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Many young lads lied about their age when signing up for service in the "Great" War. Many recruiting Sergeants turned a blind eye. Many boys died before they were of age to serve. I am too young my King to serve, Yet I have youth and grit and verve, If only I’d been sooner born, I’d join the ranks tomorrow morn! Yet when the Sergeant sees my eyes, He’ll see no boy in mannish guise! For I am like a man full grown, Strong in muscle, brave in bone! See me, a healthy farmer’s lad, I take my stature from my dad, And though my age is but sixteen, I’m o’er six foot and strong and lean. “Come in lad, tell us what’s your age?” He sat, pen poised above the page, “My age sir, it is seventeen, You’ll sign no other man as keen”. “So tell young man, your year of birth” His face had lighted up with mirth, “The year sir, eighteen ninety-seven” He heaved a sigh and looked to heaven. “I think you’ve made a mistake then, Son go outside and think again” I stepped outside the door and stood, With childish petted lip to brood. Then came this chap in uniform, He asked my age, and where I’m from, “From Evesham sir, and seventeen” He looked at me, his eyes serene. “To join the ranks of Kitchener’s men, You have to be full eight and ten”. Then with a wink he wandered by, I stood alone with glinting eye. “Come in lad, tell us what’s your age?” He looked as if my wit to gauge, “My age sir it is eighteen years, I wish to join the engineers”. “So tell young man, your year of birth, When were you dropped upon this Earth?” “The year sir eighteen ninety-six” He bid me sign and called the next. So here my body lies at Mons, Like countless other English sons, And countless German sons forbye, How old is old enough to die? Oli (01/10/06)
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