Who was to know? br Who could have foretold br the normal lives br where tragedy enfolds. br br Tom Roberts,19, Arklow, br Fighting in his way for Ireland br sings no more Songs of Erin br in Flanders Poppy Fields. br br Willy Krzossa,20, learning history br in peaceful Wummensiede br would soon close his story br in lonely quiet Glencree. br br Two young lives, unfulfilled. br Two Mothers, and two Sweethearts pray. br Two graves. Two wars. br Too high a price to pay. br br Am I the link alone br That brings these two together br Like students, exchanged in times br And places each had never known br br I stood at Willy’s gravestone in Glencree br I read Tom’s name in Flanders list of Dead br They are together in this poem, and br in the waste of lives two wars repeated br br br br br br br Martin Swords br September 2010 br br br Written following a visit with four French English Language Students br to The German War Cemetery, Glencree, Co. Wicklow. br br They didn’t understand.