This is a poem written by an 11 year old online student of mine. His name is Sohum and he lives in Australia.I was trying to get him to discipline his writing and decided poetry would help. I suggested he read some of the War Poets like Owen, Brooke and Sassoon, which he did, and this is what he came up with within a few minutes! I don't think he copied anyone, he was simply inspired by the rage and sadness in the poems. I have polished it a little- a very little- not because he could not have done the editing himself, but because being 11 he gets fidgetty  and types carelessly.I have his and his dad's permission to publish his poem in my blog. This poem could easily be put to music. Its like a song-lyric and the melancholy refrain reminds me of Danny Boy.

Untitled poem by Sohum Jain

Falling snow

drifts so slow

like raindrops

Soldier boy come home

Bells are chiming

Mother waits

Father waits

on bended knees

Come home

Come home

Comforting

Praying

for you for you

Soldier boy come home

Come to your mother's arms

Soldier boy mother waits

for you for you

Father comforts

through sleepless nights

repeating Son, don't die,

God,  I believe in you

Drowning himself in beer

father cries

sobbing until he sleeps

In the morning 

the tears

still as fresh as dew

Mother  locked away

in a stony wall of silence

speaking to no one

as if bound by 

invisible ropes

Father talks of glory

fearing the worst

hoping for the best

Soldier boy come home

Soldier boy come home

blood covers the battlefield

bullets strike home

Pray to God

ask him for strength

ask Him to return you home

Comrades falling one by one

blood like a field

of crimson roses

bullets whizzing past

bombs whistling down

Your mother misses you

wants to welcome you

in her arms

Soldier boy come home