We had walked unwashed for days

exhausted both in body and mind,

we needed shelter, rest, and

as we approached the village

respite seemed at hand, yet

we stopped,

something was wrong.

 

We had fought and we had lost and

were now in retreat,

our enemy in pursuit of the remnants of

our once gallent force,

yet, we stopped,

in these hill villages you are

first greeted by the barking village dogs

then by the half starved children,

but now, nothing but silence.

 

Our senses alert

we moved forward, then

the smell hit us,

God , what an awful stench of

death and decay,

of bloated bodies both young and old.

 

They had placed the heads of our comrades on poles

eyes and tongues removed,

notes were attached to the poles,

"go now heathen, go now

 do not return to

 this Holy Land".

 

We moved slowly through the village

our small band spared,

for whatever reason

we would never know,

but of our comrades that followed?,

strange thing to tell

but as we left the village

the wind chimes began to chime,

I like to think it was the souls

of our comrades bidding us farewell.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

.