He looked at what was left of the war
No Man’s Land silent at last
Feeling guilty of the clothes he wore
There was just one thing he asked
He asked God up in the sky
Just for five minutes or less,
“Protect me so I don’t die,
Still wearing my army dress.”
Some parties they agreed
Not to fire a single round
Another dead, there was no need
For even more bodies in the ground
Other soldiers they did not
Believe that war was gone
Their firearm still burning hot
To death they were drawn
Few didn’t keep in mind
On their muddy watch, still going
11 o’clock is to be defined
As peace for the unknowing
Seconds before the church bell yells
That peace has finally been ensured
A dozen stories no one will tell
Of wounds that will never be cured
Have happened
Written down on marble white
At 5 AM Germany will write
Peace, between the nations
The roaring twenties crumbling foundations
And 6 hours later
The man on the field are told
War’s very own violator
Has finally been controlled.
But in that time too many will fall
Because of a last whistle being blown
Over No Man’s Land they crawl
For the didn’t know
This poem was based on the short film called END OF WAR- the final minutes of WWI. The “peace” was signed at 5AM, but the soldier didn’t know until 11AM, or couldn’t act on it until that time at least.