Marching Men. (And Some Came Home) Poem by Adrian Yates

Marching men and marching bands,
See the brass reflect the sun.
Hear the stirring music play,
Recruitment has begun.

Count the sergrants medals there'
All in a gleaming row.
See him marching proudly,
His face with pride aglow.

The halt is called and there theu stand.
In rigid ranks and files.
See the sweat stained uniforms,
From many dusty miles.

There they stand so proud and bold,
Young men fearless and brave.
See the volunteers come forth,
To put eash name on a grave.

Lord Kitchener looks down on them,
'Your country needs you ' he says.
See them sign away their lives.
Beneath his steely gaze.

Marching men and marching bands,
See the brass reflect the sun,
See them marching off to war,
'Farewell my love, farewell my son'.

Marching men and marching bands,
With slow and measurd tread.
See the wives and mothers weep,
For volunteers now dead.

Marching men and marching bands,
See the brass reflect the sun.
See the sergeants eyes brimful.
The mourning hs begun.

To the memory of the 'Lions led by donkeys' thrown into
battle WW1 1914 -1918. R.I.P.
Adrian Yates.