It was a cold day when the rain came down br our life was just a hole in the ground br I tell you if there's a hell, then this was it br between our legs the rats would roam br try to get some sleep and they'd dropp a bomb br you never ate but somehow you felt sick br br Then around a cigarette would pass br you took your draw it might be your last br there was no remorse for being knee deep in mud br and now and then you glanced the fence br its spiking barbs and body's drenched br the cuts and scars, the sweat and tears and blood br br You can never forget that caustic smell br of the guns that fought their way to hell br or the hollow looking eyes that once were friends br you gazed upon their saddened smiles br though somehow never realised br they looked at you the way you looked at them br br We knew it wouldn't be too long br till we moved off or just passed on br somebody told us we'd be going soon, br 'There's a machine gun post just over the line, br We're going to take it so now's the time', br It sounded like picking flowers in the afternoon br br And sure enough the whistle blew br the time had come for us we knew br over the top our party made the advance br we ran five yards and over the wire br we ran five more then heard the fire br the machine gun opened up, we had no chance br br So here I lie in no mans land br with an empty pocket and gun in hand br yet it seems so peaceful with the battle all around br and as I watch the clouds go past br I wonder how long it will last br before returning to my old home town br br It's a long time since that battle day br though I never made the big parade br let he who hasn't sinned cast the first stone br well it's missiles that we're casting now br a fact that doesn't make me proud br I'm the soldier in the grave that's marked unknown.br br Charles M.