Present Without Leave

(The Final Leave)

 Silhouette Soldier, Ripon, N. Yorks
greatwarforum.org

End-of-summer daisies,

nasturtiums struggling on,

wooded hillsides browning,

lingering evenings gone,

smouldering embers dying,

dark night drawing on,

with gnawing dread I see

your uniform put on.

How shall I dare to live

when un-blest war is done?

Bless you, ever keep you.

I give you up. My son.

© Janet Henderson October 2017