War Is A Terrible Thing
We were covered in wounds,one of our hands impaled mud gushing into our wounds more and more every step making us sicker and sicker.We just saw one of our men in the group to the right fall because of heart failure, and we were happy to even be alive.
As we were walking back to the camp shells exploding around us,one of our mates sticks said he can’t walk any more,everyone else left him I had to help.I was carrying him through the deep squelchy mud shells exploding around us,god help us.
Sticks face wasn't looking too good now his chest wound filled with mud,his boots off and cuts all over his feet he was beginning to mumble in a different language alien to our own,on the other hand rocks was fine trudging on with the slightest of limps a brave look on his face even though he was scared of the sounds of rifles behind,BANG a bullet rips through his collarbone he falls at the shock then stands up clutching his would limping on about 50 metres to go,then I have to help him get back up.
I see a shell about 20 metres away open up and squirt green gas BLOOMIN’ HELL! ITS TOXIC GAS!.
I struggle to get Sticks gas mask out as he can’t walk he grasps it with one hand and pulls the massive awkward thing on,right my turn I thought as I take out the mask I see a man grab his throat 10 metres away and collapse and I have to help rocks put his on 2 metres away poor old boots dies in front of us,right rocks is on better put mine on and FAST.
Whoa I thought as I just managed to put it on another gas shell exploded next to us its really thick now, a vomit green colour in fact it was so close to the trench it was dangerous we were just 20 metres away now and the gas was 5.
I look over to the right to see how Rocks is coping he is fine I look back a sticks who I was dragging along he takes his mask off and says goodbye old friend I am about to die anyway better do it fast so i’m les COUGH of a bu COUGH he died their right in front of me,I will never forget that moment.
Sticks was my best army mate and now he’s dead an unforgettable moment that will haunt me forever may god have mercy on his soul.I below in rage i run up to his dead body and I quickly take my mask off kiss his forehead and say rest in peace my friend without breathing put my mask on and I hear a faint cough and his eyes open for a brief moment and he looks at me and he says “Take care of my kids please act as a father to them and he died for real the eyes open and all I closed them and carried him with me to make a proper grave for him,Well would you?
Imagine this, seeing his mouth click clack open and close as you walk him over the rugged uneven surface seeing blood mixed with snot come in and out of him his eyes watering and his limbs turning blacky purple with all the trapped blood,a truly horrifying sight,then rocks says it should have been me I should have died instead of young sticks he was only just 18 and I am 40 it should have been me.No it was his fate we are all going to die anyway I said.
If you have ever been to war you would know that it is not a good thing to die for your country,even if all the military sign up sheets say so,you have to be someone me or rocks who have had a horrible war experience to know that that is untrue,war is a bad thing that should not happen ever,its cruel to have to be forced to kill other innocent people just for land.Land should be shared not bickered over,it’s not worth all the lives lost,a life is forever,love is forever.You don’t want a loved one to die.
Inspired by: “Dulce et Decorum Est”
By Wilfred Owen 1893-1918
