A Poet's Blog: Roger N.Taber shares his thoughts & poems...

Thoughts and observations by English poet Roger N. Taber, a retired librarian and poet-novelist.- "Ethnicity, Religion, Gender, Sexuality ... these are but parts of a whole. It is the whole that counts." RNT [NB While I have no wish to create a social network, I will always reply to critical emails about my poetry. Contact: rogertab@aol.com].

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Location: London, United Kingdom

Sadly, a bad fall in 2012 has left me with a mobility problem, and being diagnosed with prostate cancer the same year hasn't helped, but I get out and about with my trusty walking stick as much as I can, take each day as it comes and try to keep looking on the bright(er) side of life. Many of my poems reflect the need to nurture a positive-thinking mindset whatever life throws at us.

Tuesday 17 September 2013

Stretcher Bearer


A boy at my school was being taunted about his grandfather being a 'cowardly conchie' during the First World War. 

When I asked my mum about this she told me that the lad's grandfather had not fought in the war but acted as a stretcher bearer, frequently on the front line of battle, and was no coward. 

She also explained to boy Roger (I would have been about 10 years old at the time) that people who hold fast to their convictions rather than surrender to demands to the contrary are no cowards anyway.

(Image taken from the Internet)

STRETCHER BEARER

I wear a badge of courage
few can see who look for medals
on the chest
or a victory sign to oblige the press
anxious for a story,
but less interested in mine;
I’m no hero, not me,
shooting holes in the glory
of a devotion to duty

I wear a badge of courage
few can see who look for scars
won in battle
or, better still, a crippling injury
that will treat me
to free beers at local bars;
for me, only looks
and words drawn like swords,
politics of all wars

I wear a badge of courage,
will join heads bowed in gratitude
and pride at the finest marble
monuments to its tears, the price
(no choice?) of freedom,
so many would have us believe,
if not the likes of me
left stitching up the glory
of a devotion to duty

Under fire, I, the stretcher bearer,
Front Line conscientious objector

Copyright R. N. Taber 2010

[From: On the Battlefields of Love by R. N. Taber, Assembly Books, 2010.]

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