At the First Flash of Light

The fighting started at the first flash of light
The the shells came down, as if it were rain
"Over the top" my general cried
My friends ran over, old and young
They went down, one by one
As the blood spilled onto the torn earth
It made sure that another poppy would come up to remember them by.

It's silent now
I look up to the stars and I know they're looking down on me
But I don't want to think about that now, I just want this whole thing to end
But when that first flash of light comes I'll charge at that machine gun
And drive them all the way back to Berlin.

The first flash of light came and I charged at that machine gun
The bullets didn't hurt but the tears were scarring my skin
I laid down on the ground and closed my eyes.

I leapt up off the ground
A flash of light
And as my hands flickered across the face of God
And I knew this was the place for me
A place of peace.

Matthew Dawson