Going over the top in World War One was when soldiers climbed from their trench to attack enemy trenches. At the battle of the Somme a British general ordered his men to walk towards the German trenches and not run. ' We don't want the enemy to think the British are cowards.' Thousands died because of his command. <br /> <br />Birds no longer sing <br />Where young men cower in trenches <br />Rifle and bayonet fixed <br />Wondering if they will live or die <br />Wanting the comfort of a mother's kiss. <br /> <br />Officers blow whistles <br />And the brigade climb out of trenches <br />Walking over shell craters and through barbwire <br />On towards waiting machine gunners <br />Surmounting terrors that make men mad. <br /> <br />There is no sound <br />But beating of each soldier's heart <br />As he steps forward into hell <br />Trying to control his fears and panic <br />Thinking of his loved ones back home. <br /> <br />Machine gunners open up <br />With chatter of bullets raking the ranks <br />Noise is deafening, screams as men are hit and fall <br />With wounded struggling in the mud <br />And for the dead grieving mothers to mourn.<br /><br />Colin Ian Jeffery<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/over-the-top-6/
