Grey as a field on a dusty day,
exhausted men sit and try
to drink the village dry.
In the distance the earth shakes
where a geyser erupts
molten and deadly.
There a ledge gives way,
stinking mud buries,
and still the earth shakes.
More geysers erupt,
hearts glowing red
in the distant darkness,
and the men drink on.
Movement,
stealth,
encirclement.
The killing begins.
Bottles dropped.
The earth shakes, and walls crumble,
roofs collapse, buildings burn,
occupiers die resisting.
Village retaken, battleline restored,
grey advance halted,
finally.
Brown in French mud,
exhausted men sit and try
to drink the village dry.
In the April dawn antipodeans
crowd the hill to remember
Villiers Bretonneaux
on ANZAC Day.
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Author notes
ANZAC Day, April 25th. Remembering Australia's service in WW1, and since.
German uniforms: "field Grey"
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