CHRISTMAS TRUCE... (My poem for Christmas Day...)

 Christmas Truce…

A simple enough icon:

Carved hands gripped in strife’s peace,

Sleeves confirming an equality,

An understanding, a tension’s release…

A simple enough meaning:

Carved hands shake on a mere truce,

Grasp knowing the reality,

When the next shells will cut death loose…

Pete Ray

This memorial at the National Arboretum was special, for I believe that my paternal grandfather was posted to the region in December 1914, with the Royal Warwickshires. 

I have no idea whether he witnessed any of the handshakes, or the alleged football match…

I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO VISIT THE SITE OF WHAT IS BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN WHERE THE IMPROMPTU SOCCER GAME TOOK PLACE.
I JUGGLED A BALL THERE...

The badge on the memorial’s British sleeve is a 

Royal Warwickshire emblem.

I never met either of my grandfathers…