Over The Top

At the request of @smellyfingers

Although the noise of the guns was like incessant thunder in the dark skies overhead;

I did not retreat.

I approached the monster, my time was near; I kissed the charm around my neck and said a prayer against our defeat.

Dear God, I am going into grave danger;
Please help me act like a man.
Protect my men to my sides,
And keep us safe from harm

The conflicting violent emotions seeping through my veins, come and go like the mist.
I thought of my sweet Jane, and the last time we kissed.

It was 7.15 on that cold November morning,
When the CO's whistle was blown.
I climbed the parapet of the trench,
And looked out to the misty unknown.

It was eerily silent;
Then it came.
It came in a furious tirade of shelling;
To kill, to injure, to maim.

Still we were given the signal to advance,
Through the mud of no mans land.
I continued into the fog, into the unknown;
Bayonet poised in my trembling hands.

The machine gun fire came in waves,
As I fell to the ground.
I could hear the terrified screaming everywhere;
Through the thunderous artillery sound.

I scrambled through the barbed wire;
The horses broke free and were scared
Over head the bullets were flying;
My left foot got trapped, ensnared.

Oh God, please not here;
I cannot die in this hell and rot.
The flooded shell holes have a hold on me;
They'll kill me with one shot.

Someone cut me out, through the hammering of the guns.
I clambered to my feet, through the mud;
And together we would run.

Our heads down, bayonets out
We dodged our brave fallen men
We ran through the death and destruction
Rest in peace, amen.

We made it to the first enemy trench
Our artillery had cleared it out
My body relaxed, I had survived
But my heart had its doubt

So many men fallen
And I came close to be one too
We are now brothers in arms
And I owe my life to you