Telegraph Boy

it makes you afraid to see
the telegraph boy, telegraph boy,
you didn´t want to see him, you see,
the telegraph boy, it meant bad news,
bad news the queens shilling, the press
gang willing, he doesn´t like the trenches,
in the stench of death amaze at bombardment,
you´re under age in burning flesh, smell of man.

never kissed a girl, as you went over the top
to carnage with the same shadows that stop
in the ground as the gun goes bang you pop
& the sky finally falls down, in the blast of the force
you a voice, a horse, a horse, a kingdom for a horse.

Copyright Robin Ouzman Hislop 2004
All rights reserved.