Comrade in Arms  



			Goodbye, sweet Meg, I did not see this day coming
			and the pain in my heart is fiercely drumming
			as my rifle, heavy, aims at your face
			for I must not leave you in this wretched place.

			Orders is orders, we're now going home
			to the land of your birth but we must go alone
			No room for our horses on the ships homeward bound
			We don't understand this, their thinking ain't sound.

			Strewn over beaches lie the corpses of mates
			who carried us boldly at maximum gait
			as they surged into battle and swept over sand
			held tight to the bridle by fearful hands.
 
			You carried us bravely, and on you we won
			'cose you held tight your line and charged 'neath the guns.
			and not once you faltered though bullets whizzed by
			Oh my sweet Meg, I don’t want you to die.  

			The ships are now leaving and I lower my gun
			I cannot destroy you, my heart you have won
			so I leave you, sweet Meg, may your life bear no pain
			even though I shall never see you again.

			Our ships cut the waves and draw out to sea
			as the horses abandoned stand watching and scream
			then into the surf they plunge to the hip
			and moving as one swim after the ship.

			We stand on the stern and pray you turn back 
			but the waves crash o'er you as your stride is taxed.
			The sea is too strong and the ship will not stop
			for we have no way to get you atop.

			Tears fill my eyes that you cannot be saved
			as I cry like a baby as you sink 'neath the waves.
			Each day of remembrance my face streaks with wet
			as I see you so clearly, sweet Meg, 
					
					and I shall ne'er forget.  
  
					***


			© Helen Iles  2005




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