TRENCHES
Rain + mud gave way for sludge / slime,
everytime,
and sleet and snow
and carrion crow
and rat.
rats ate the dead meat
that lay at feet
and stench
that sweet sickly stench
of dead horses, mules and men
( as true as Death within the butchers\' shops )
and black, buzzing clouds, swarms
of flies feasted where they died
and white faces,
faces you\'ve never seen
shocked beyond belief.
lice.
2 feet of water, (rising )
pitiful screams, too many to help, everywhere
some took hours to die.
shell shattered earth.
and DEATH.
that was trench warfare,
I swear.
JAMES REID