BAD LUCK AIN'T GOT NO TIMETABLE

Two weeks and he would have been home
but he didn't make it.
The man who planted the bomb
never knew him.
The man who set it off
had never seen him.
He was just the other
and as such no Afghan Taliban brother.
Another man got his bell rang
from the killings big bang.
He will be back on duty soon
in time to hear the mournful piper's tune
to slow-march his buddy's coffin onto the plane
to be gone and not be seen again.
He's gone to join the heroes' pictures on the wall
bless em all. Bless em all, bless em all.
If someone could just explain
I'm sure they would all gladly do it again.
In the graveyard of armies and empire
two weeks from home
away from all the blood and fire
bless em all, bless em all, bless em all.
They have answered the bugles call
and that's the way it is in this classic battle fable
because for this hero
and others before and after
bad luck ain't got no timetable.

©Copyright August 3, 2006 by John-Ward Leighton

In memory of Cpl. Christopher Jonathan Reid 1PPCLI
and dedicated also, to the nineteen who preceded Chris and the three who followed today.

IN PACE PARATUS