My Mother

by David McDonald
(Fife, Scotland)

Mother take me to thy breast,
remind me of the life I had
Give me hope for a future life,
prove this is not all the life I had
Take me from this mud rotten hell,
cleanse my face with tears
Hold me close within your arms,
drive away my fears

Tell the bedtime stories of old;
let me lie once more at peace
Caress my brow take my thoughts away,
let this hell cease
Tell me of our dreams we had,
not this future full of sorrows
If only we had yesterdays,
alas there are only tomorrows

I ask you mother be quite still,
your son must fight his war
All the questions you may have,
asking others what it is for
I go to do my duty now,
hold the memories of yesterday
Today now my mother,
I move forward come what may


‘many a soldier in times of need still call for their mother’