Child Soldiers

A spray of Lynx *shh shhh* for body armour
Fake ID to deflect the bouncer
Shoes shined, hair slicked
He’s ready for war
He’s ready for
Another round in the “battle of the sexes”.

On the train with his mates
and the talk turns to girls
It’s clear they’ve been through
Lots before
It’s clear they’ve all had
Loss before
Like only 17 year olds have

There’s talk of plenty more fish in the sea
There’s talk of the time at the party when he
Met that girl
The one with the eyes ….
And the body that… well
That’s too much to tell
But suffice to say … the whole. train. knew.

With friends around him
They rally round.
With bravura found in
Cans of Stella.
The crucial ammo
For that night’s manoeuvre.

So under cover of darkness
They arrive at the club
Laser lights like tracer
Pierce through fake fog
They take up positions
To prop up the bar
All thinking they are

The coolest ones there.

Eyes sweep round the room
Eyes make a connection
His head jerks back with recognition
With a smile to the girl
with the body that well....
He makes his break
across no man's land

He’s dodging flailing body parts
and lodging dodgy ways to start
a conversation in his foggy head.

“Hey Sarah, I'm sure you remember me,

from that party, the one where ...you know we..

Anyway babe I'm a soldier now

And a soldier knows how to handle his gun so

Let’s go and dance, let's have some fun”

A cheeky smile, a glint in his eye, and

“Sarah I might die so

come and get me while you can”

He knew it was lame but it got a reaction,

A smile, a kiss,

A telephone number

6 more months of happy laughter.

He's eighteen now and training done

He waits with his mates in the pouring rain

Waits for a plane to take them away

A plane that will tilt through bullet spray.

And with a spray of Lynx *shh shh* under his body armour

Boots shone, helmet on

He's ready for war

He's ready for another round

In the “war on terror”.

First patrols and he's got no fear

Young guy's swagger and youthful cheer.

A call from Sarah she's got some news

In 7 months there's a baby due.
Just 1 month more and they'll be together

He and her and their little soldier.

Proud to bursting, full of life

In love with his girlfriend, his future wife

Patrolling with his friends from home

It all makes sense, it’s all in place.

Until the next mission turns it round.

His bravura fades as vehicles roll

And he’s dodging flying body parts

He's seeing things he'd rather not
He's seeing friends …. .

He sees them....
So there's a tear in his eye while on the satellite phone

“Oh Sarah, babe, I might actually die”

She feels a kick as she starts to sob

And six more months now seems so long

So long for it all to go wrong

So long for him not to come home.

On a transport with his mates

Each with that thousand yard stare

No conversation now just a determined air

And it's clear they've been through

Lots before

It's clear they've all had

Loss before

Like no 18 year old should.

And a spray of lynx *shh shh* under his body armour
Boots worn, hair torn
He's not ready for war
He's not ready for
Another round in their 'war on terror'

Still, no bouncer here, so no fake ID.
Just a hail of gunfire
And the boom of an IED.