If you are reading this letter,
Know that I am already long gone,
For to my breathing comrade I gave these words,
and asked him to send them home,
Know that I gave my all
but when the moment came at last,
In a trench I did fall
and could not make it past,
When the order came at half past five,
Amid the gas and rifle fire, I could not stay alive.
If you are reading this letter,
Know that I won’t be back,
A fortress we held, a fortress we gave
and hope is all but lost,
Know that I was called upon, that I stood brave,
that I ran into the fire,
A young schoolboy trying to save
and joined him at his post,
In a field of gray I choked and bled,
On concrete and clay I now lie dead.
If you are reading this letter,
Know that my time has come,
It’s lonely and dark and wet and cold
and the fish soon end their fast,
Know that I served with honour
and hard as I could try,
Here I am – a dying goner
who didn’t say goodbye,
I faced The Devil, I faced him unchecked,
I faced him so I could keep you safe; so you I could protect.
If you are reading this letter,
Know that I am on my way home,
The worst has past, what’s left won’t last
and I will be with you soon,
Know that for you I longed
and for you I held,
That for you I wronged
and for you I shelled,
Soon I shall return to our old place,
To see your smile and feel your warm embrace.