As part of the Academy’s WW1 Centenary activities of recognition, Benjamin created a poignant poem that is rich in sensory vocabulary and language techniques and is a true winner of the competition.
War…
My brain aches with the bullets hissing over my head,
Whilst the white flashes blind my eyes
Leaving me stunned,
Leaving me no clue
Where, oh where am I?
Why have I been placed in this wasteland of war?
Why have I been abandoned, left to perish?
Glancing over to see my friends fall,
Their bodies lay there lifeless
The shiver up my spine silently spooks me
With every gust of wind winding me back to when I almost die,
Sharp shrapnel spewing out the blood of my allies
Their limbs have been lost, hearts were shattered
Despite all of this we must push on
Letting the commanders’ words take control
Leading us to victory
Even though the sacrifice may be plenty
The memory of my wife is the only reason I press onward
To peer upon her eyes again warming my heart
To see my daughter who is only ten…
Their memories could break apart if I’m no longer in them
With all the frosted tears rolling down my face
Condemning us to an early demise
Why would they send us here?
I want to live! God save my life!
