Work Text:
(Found in Jim Nicholls camp diary, pasted between two pages)
J.S. September 1914
You rode past in fierce sunlight, pale gold
Pouring over you like honey
Your eyes direct and alight as flame
Fired with command and pride
And I never knew, I could not see
The barbed wire of your smile
Your laugh, when some silly story told
Made you smile and struck you funny
As your eyes danced and, to my shame,
I hid my face and to myself I lied
And I suddenly knew, I now could see
The landmines in your mirth
You charged, warrior heart so bold
Bought only with honor and courage as money
You all unaware of your deserved fame
I choked and swallowed back tears uncried
And I, half-maddened, knew, half-blinded could see
The trenches of your bravery
You were lost, a captive to be sold
Or traded, too feared to face the dummy
Court or camp and left for inglorious pain
I screamed and railed and spread my search so wide
And I, cold-corpse-like, knew, with dead eyes could see
The mortars of your mortality
I would have lain
A body smashed
To save you
I would have gone to hell
With joy
To restore you
But oh I fear you now
The artillery of your kiss
Might tear me apart
Before I could once say
Your name
Briony James, 7/28/14