George Mansford

OLD SOLDIERS NEVER DIE

Crowds gather to watch the annual military parade
Today’s Regiment, ready and waiting as the sun fades
Veterans from recent arenas of Jungle, Desert and Snow
A shrill command; the long line snaps to attention, ready to go
Soon, the sinking glow blurs and dusk arrives
The band plays and a bugle cries
Soldiers salute and all stand fast
The National Flag is lowered from the mast
Ghostly images slowly appear at long, long last
They’re the warriors from all of those yesterdays
Back to visit their tribe and whisper fond giddays
As the Battalion marches past with Colours flying high
All these Spirits watch with sharp and approving eye
Proud of the current guardians who protect the sacred thread
Thus these warriors from Valhalla are far from being dead
Then as they merge with dusk and gone from the scene
A gentle breeze stirs then gathers where they’ve been
The Colours flutter then stiffen in a salute of goodbye
Soon the parade ends as the columns march away
Darkness falls; all is quiet until night birds shriek and cry
With tales of ghosts from yesterday and more such visits by and by

Author’s Note: Inspired after watching the First Battalion of our beloved Regiment on parade to commemorate “The Battle of Coral”