Soldier's Tree Poem by Francis Duggan

They call this tree the Soldier's Tree
It honours one whose life blood was shed
A victim of the First World War
'Lest we forget our soldier dead'.

I read the plaque nailed to the tree
It stated his date of birth and name
A tree to honour his bravery
But to dead soldier what use fame? .

I see he was just seventeen
So young so very young to die
Those who sent him to fight in war
Must share blame for death of the boy.

Fighting more than half a World away
And at the end what was his gain?
Gunned down by one he'd never known
Hope death was quick without much pain.

How can one that you've never known
Ever become your enemy?
Those who send men to die in wars
Of guilt must not be made feel free.

I read the plaque on Soldier's Tree
On war memorial avenue
A lad who died at seventeen
Gunned down by one he never knew.