Did I hear the drone?

Or hear the air around it moan?

Did I see the photoflash?

Or how close the rotors almost clashed?

Did I view the guiding lasers?

Or the defender's stream of rapid tracers?

Did I feel the aerial explosion?

Or the small arms bullet’s detonation?

Did I feel the overwhelming heat?

As the missile landed in the adjoining street?

Did I suffer the most horrendous noise?

As grown men screamed like little boys?

Did I comfort those who’d lost?

Or those who’d paid the ultimate cost,

Did I dig deeply with my hands in the dirt?

To find those buried alive, but hurt

Did I spend many sleepless nights?

Trying to cheat death, avoiding the fight.

Did I find time to breathe easy?

Could I eat? Did I feel queasy?

Did I revisit the devastation and aftermath?

Was I stunned by this remotely aimed wrath?

How’s this war going? Has it affected me?

No, I’m viewing remotely at a distance on the BBC.