Red Tabs

Each time dropping his pallet to greet
the freshly laundered khaki serge, ordering each one
to stand just so, stretch that arm, look into the distance,
where glory and fresh strawberries wait for tea

The trouble they had getting there!
Roads blocked
   click-shut golden time-piece
Ambulances, miners, engineers,
   glint silver-topped cane
I remember this old place
   battalions, troops, batteries, squadrons, corps,
   armies, laid neatly row by block
   unwavering, purposeful,
   ember ashes glow
HQ to the 7th
gave a medal to young Bertie - went AWOL -
had him shot.
Tommy, finest in the world
   baton paused caress boot-tip
Now we've lost his father,
we have to train Alfred
to tend the lawns.
   eyes sweep streak rain glass
   the quietness, the ticking clock
Show'em steel. Show'em who's boss.

Figures crowd into the canvas
or the canvas grudgingly expanded,
figures fighting to emerge from thick veneer,
peaks of swirling mud, golden flashes,
blood red tabs seeping at the edges.