THEY ALSO SERVE WHO SIT AND WAIT

 

Tommy Watson, age 14, worked as a telegram delivery boy for the London postal service in 1916. It was supposed to be an easy job—ride his bicycle, deliver messages, earn money to help his widowed mother. But in July 1916, after the disastrous first day of the Somme, Tommy's job became delivering death. The War Office telegrams all looked identical—small manila envelopes with "OHMS" printed on them. Everyone knew what they meant. When people saw Tommy riding his bicycle down their street, they prayed he would pass their house. When he stopped, when he walked to a door with an envelope in his hand, families knew before he even spoke. Their son, their husband, their father was dead.  On July 5, 1916, Tommy delivered forty-three death telegrams in one day—forty-three families destroyed in eight hours of work.

 

THEY ALSO SERVE WHO SIT AND WAIT .. Maureen Clifford ©  The #ScribblyBarkPoet

 

Each day beside her window she would sit and wait with bated breath

watching for the young bloke who had become the harbinger of death

with telegrams clutched in his hand, a sad expression on his face.

Scarce old enough to do the job, far less give comfort or solace.

From time to time, she heard the cries, the screams, the weeping – no surcease,

and weekly now they posted lists of all the soldiers now deceased.

Black armbands flourished everywhere, and ‘widow’s weeds’ were often seen

Now returning from fields of France – maimed warriors – their wounds obscene.

 

She rocked the cradle by her feet, she prayed each night “God keep him safe’’

and how the waiting wore her down, the constant stress her nerves did chafe.

But little did she know of how much trauma those soldiers endured,

for little news was sent back home – the censor had the final word.

They also serve, who sit and wait  -  and now one hundred years has passed

and still men fight on foreign soil, and still the peace declared don’t last.

And no man wins and no land gains – the loss is still by far too high.

One has to wonder why it is no lessons learnt, nor sense applied.

 

The weapons in Afghanistan exceed by far those used in France

More technologically designed to swiftly kill – far more advanced.

And yet the death of men has never altered – life simply expires

whilst left behind are those who care – against whom seems fate has conspired.

They also serve who sit and wait and serve in silence year by year.

Life for them is never the same.  Sad smiles now hide a hidden fear

that history will yet again repeat itself, and at what cost?

If mankind will not learn from wars – then our humanity is lost.

 

27.01.2026