799 - 11/11, 11am

At eleven this morning, ninety years
Have passed since the end of that awful war
Only three survivors now, shedding tears
For fallen comrades, old memories still raw
The new National Memorial, not too far
From my home town of Lichfield, is the scene
Of sombre ceremony; with such poor
Weather, that beam of light will not be seen
To shine through the crack in the wall that means
To make the wreaths glow at this time of year
To shine gold rays of glory on the poor
Long-gone heroes of '14 to '18
Eleven has passed now; the sun appears
Briefly. Heavy cloud returns as before
Tue 11 Nov 2008