TOMMY

nephilim56 ( Norman Dickson)

Tommy became a Tommy
In 1914
The boy with a crewcut
And a million dreams.

Fresh faced and spotty
Mischeviously poor
Hard man for a father
Tears for mother.

Four years in the dark
A hell hacking out coal
Long shifts for a pittance
To survive is the goal

Pay each debtor
Who knocks at the door
A few pints after graft
To wash away the coal tar.

France was an unreal
To a boy from the pit
Cheap brandy down his throat
Scrambling from the guts and the spit.

To fire that rifle
Not too straight not too wide
Kill a German a day
Make the sergeant smile.

One day from the trench
More drunk than afraid
Tommy became a Tommy
Spotty fresh faced.

The bullet hit clean
No time to recall
A boys love of life
Only one more to fall.

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Comments +

Comments2

  • Teddy.15

    The empathy and dignity you always give the war veterans is incredibly admirable 💖

    • nephilim56 ( Norman Dickson)

      thank you, I wrote this many years ago and it came 2nd in a poetry competition to a poem about fish and chips

      • Teddy.15

        Just shows what people find more appealing : (

        • nephilim56 ( Norman Dickson)

          I found it an insult to the poem, didnt mind being 2nd but thought the content of Tommy was not given enough respect

          • Teddy.15

            I understand completely

          • Doggerel Dave

            You know I relate completely.
            Poetry I'm at one with all the way.
            Agree entirely here with Teddy.15.



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