Ah Johnny, I hardly knew you
Then:
“With your guns an drums
and drums an guns…
the enemy nearly slew ye
Oh darlin dear you look so queer
Ah Johnny, I hardly knew ye”
Traditional Irish folk song
*
Ah Johnny, I hardly knew you
I gave you a good time
you left me with child
and a stone cold shoulder
to cry on alone in the night
as your shadow faded
from memory
In a blink of an eye
our passion play was over
Seemingly all sins atoned for
Yet one final brutal betrayal
left us with little more to say
Your smile, as you walked away.
You’re too busy today
to come away and share
a pot of tea with me.
A Lyon’s corner house where
waitresses serve patiently
two lamb chops for a shilling.
You? You go wearily, unwilling
slack eyed, back to your war.
the bloody guts an the gore
Where once we were close
I fear to hear you, no more.
Ah Johnny I hardly knew you…
“Where are your eyes that looked so mild,
When my poor heart you first beguiled?
Why did you run from me and the child?
Och, Johnny, I hardly knew ye!”
Photo by British Library on Unsplash
and now:
all is quiet
except for the trudge
of marching feet
the beat of the drum
the hum of drones
the hollered commands
the roar of jet engines
the whistling of shells
falling on deaf ears
all is quiet
**********