Hard faced men who,

Had done rather well out of the war

Stood quietly contemplating the war torn soldiers

As they marched in ragged formation

Towards the Cenotaph

Grim faces mounted on deeply black overcoats

Wearing under-stated poppies

Backs held erect and feet slightly apart

Giving a subliminal facade of military service

At the Cenotaph

As the soldiers shuffled past these bloodless relics

They thought of their fallen comrades

The honoured patriots calculated lost profits

And labour shortages after the early peace

At the Cenotaph.

Chris Purnell 31 October 2010