Waxen Men and Metal Monsters

We stood upon the quarterdeck

Just standing, waiting.

CO yelling, we’ll be there in a sec’

Waves are swelling under the hull

We hear the snip, snip of guns ahead

Heads along the railing, raised

Wondering, almost fearful of who might be dead.

We hear the pipes calling.

 

“Company HOWE!”

bellowed our leader.

it is time that destruction, sow

We all fall in, backs like rods.

in the dead silence, the battle runs clear

we keep the stillness, wax figures.

Our faces, masks not an ounce of fear.

 

The boat starts to still below us

adrenaline flowing through our veins

we will soon march, no fuss.

Protect your brothers, OK!

the sea ahead starts churning

the whole company sucks in a breath

we see the metal monster rising

It comes slowly, but still comes

 

Our hearts pound as one

our first showing of fear.

One, two, three

A bang that our ears don’t hear 

shrapnel our bodies don’t feel

our boat is sinking, hitting the sand

HMAS is lost, all gone. 

Author's Note

This is merely me dabbling. A harsh "stay away from poetry," would be perfectly okay!

Reviews

[NoelHC]

This is more than a mere dabble, you did quite well here, in fact. Dabble on, I think.
There is signs of great potential in this work.