20th Century

Lost Youth
Anna Beckett, aged 14
The Corbet School, Baschurch

Plucked from their nests like fledglings in the wind,
New born men march steadily off to war.
Hell is awaiting silently in a land of hope and glory,
Nature will be torn apart due to man's monstrosity.
A massacre of human life, a cull like no other,
Death seeping through their veins, their bodies poisoned forever.

Lines of soldiers set to kill, but advancing to their death,
Is there reason to this combat, this parade across the land?
As rounds of ammunition are fired, actions turn to instinct,
The body succumbs to numbness, the torment never ceases.
Never to return as you were before, a young boy full of pride,
The deadly thunder of war subsides - just silence left behind.

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