tick tock

Tick 

time moves so slowly 

each second seems an hour 

the pistol butt is firmly gripped 

with adrenaline power 



Tick 

hoarse and parched dry throat 

upper lips of brine 

rehearsal for this attack 

practiced and refined 


Tick 

whistle raised to the lips 

back begins to arch 

pistol held high whistle blow 

forward forward march 

Tock 

machine guns sweep the open ground 

the watch falls in the mire 

the twenty one year old subaltern 

in bitter screams expires