‘Abis, Ackerman, Benson and Blunt, <br />Stand to attention and look to the front, <br />Chiswell and Barnett <br />Who told you to fall out, <br />You’d think this was bush week <br />Or a Boy Scout Camp call-out; <br />Get back into line or I might have you all out <br />Tonight… <br /> Did you hear what I said to you, Argent? ’ <br /> <br /> ‘But there’s a man dying on the tarmac, Sergeant! ’ <br /> <br />‘I never liked Wednesdays, ’ declaimed Sergeant Black, <br />‘Too soon to go forward, too late to go back! <br />Dexter and Dooley <br />I’ll have your attention, <br />I’m not calling names <br />For an honourable mention, <br />I’ll charge the whole bunch for a spark of presumption <br />Tomorrow… <br /> I’ll tell you once more, Mister Argent…’ <br /> <br /> ‘But there’s a man, dying on the tarmac, Sergeant! ’ <br /> <br />‘Haven’t you seen a man faint before? <br />Harris and Jenkins <br />Block up that four! <br />Fill up the gap that your mate has relinquished <br />We’ll count him as present, but almost extinguished, ’ <br />The Sergeant guffawed, in attempts to distinguish <br />Himself… <br /> Now what in creation d’ya want with me, Argent? ’ <br /> <br /> ‘A man has just died on the tarmac, Sergeant! ’ <br /> <br />24 October 1972<br /><br />David Lewis Paget<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/death-of-an-airman/