Martin “Marty” Boyce

THE CATAFALQUE PARTY

A blustery morning, a bayside retreat
a lawn cemetery, manicured and neat
the catafalque party, are standing heads bowed
their arms are reversed, coffin draped in a shroud

The chaplain approaches, the mourners all stand:
they are there to farewell one more son from our land
with dignified reverence they silently rise
at the bayside retreat under blue summer skies

The eulogy’s read by the soldier’s best friend
the mate who had held him while facing his end
heartfelt words form a brother who served alongside
who was there at the start and again when he died

The catafalque party with weapons reversed
had guarded so many – their job well rehearsed:
once more the last post rings out over the water
sending off one more soldier we lost to the slaughter

It could well be a scene from the century past
there was hope the great war was humanity’s last
but the killing continues young lives are still lost
mothers, fathers and sweethearts still counting the cost