Over the Top
poem by Scott Bailey
A poem of remembrance and thanks to those who have passed, and a past that should neither be forgotten nor repeated.
The General’s orders are loud
Over the shattering shells
Through the mustard gas cloud
The General’s orders are loud
For privates timid and proud
We hear the tolling of bells
The General’s orders are loud
Over the shattering shells
And over the top once again
We face the thundering guns
We climb from our miry den
And over the top once again
A million war-weary men
All scared but nobody runs
And over the top once again
We face the thundering guns
They stand at the station and wait
For their heroes and lovers’ return
While praying they will not be late
They stand at the station and wait
With their hearts in a fluttering state
For news they are longing to learn
They stand at the station and wait
For their heroes and lovers’ return
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© 2006 Scott Bailey
Scott Bailey
Scott Bailey is a freelance writer, author, and blogger. His works include the dystopian novel Mankind Limited and A Spring of Dreams.
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3 Comments
Succinct and poignant. I’m not a poet, but the rhyme and the way the lines are arranged really make this poem. Is there a name for this style?
Hello – thank you, Janet. The form was originally a triolet. You can read about the form here – but a friend and I adapted it as a song so it may have strayed from that form a bit.
Thanks; our writing tutor loves poetry workshops and when I do have a go at poetry I like
the challenge and assistance of having a framework!