No fanfares at the jetty
No newsclips on flat TVs
No Freedom marches through Dalgety
No recognition given by the public
No medals from the body politic
We Come Unseen
And then
More private reunions at home
More polyblocks removed from off the plant
More vital maintenance on the dome
More PAGs, more deadlines - there is no can’t
More time on drills and time in trainers
More turkeys, steaks, eggs passed down to the fridge
More crap cleared from 'round the strainers
More paint is added to the bridge
More warheads worked on ‘round the corner
More time spent getting back in order
And then
Once more the final checks for sea are made
Once more the family ties are given up
Once more the plant is in the half power state
Once more, stern and headropes singled up
Once more, on a drizzly Argyll day
Once more, for umpteenth time a black boat makes it's way...
We Go Unseen
©Peter Chilcott
No newsclips on flat TVs
No Freedom marches through Dalgety
No recognition given by the public
No medals from the body politic
We Come Unseen
And then
More private reunions at home
More polyblocks removed from off the plant
More vital maintenance on the dome
More PAGs, more deadlines - there is no can’t
More time on drills and time in trainers
More turkeys, steaks, eggs passed down to the fridge
More crap cleared from 'round the strainers
More paint is added to the bridge
More warheads worked on ‘round the corner
More time spent getting back in order
And then
Once more the final checks for sea are made
Once more the family ties are given up
Once more the plant is in the half power state
Once more, stern and headropes singled up
Once more, on a drizzly Argyll day
Once more, for umpteenth time a black boat makes it's way...
We Go Unseen
©Peter Chilcott
Brilliant! This puts into words the feelings of not only mariners, but of other service personnel. As the daughter of a career military man, this is a poignant reminder of those days. Thank you, once again, for your service to your country and the rest of the free world to help keep us safe and free. I have the greatest admiration for you.
ReplyDeleteI lived the poem with you Peter. It is what we did. Underlying in your poem you show the mystical poignancy of our other existence.
ReplyDelete