Repatriation
By SSgt Andy McFarlane
The leviathan of the sky does land,
In England’s green and pleasant land
Its cargo more precious than gold,
The body of a hero, bold
Once the giant's engines stopped,
The cargo ramp is gently dropped
Carried by six on shoulders true,
The hero is saluted by the crew
The coffin draped in Union Jack,
Is slowly carried out the back
Out of the dark and into light,
Slowly down the ramp and to the right
The six approach the hearse all black,
And place the hero gently in the back
The six then turn and march away,
Their duty has been done this day
Politicians usually have much to say,
No sign of them near here this day
They hide away and out of danger,
Much easier if the hero is a stranger
The hearse with its precious load,
Moves slowly out onto the road
The floral tributes line the route,
While comrades snap a smart salute
At the edge of a Wiltshire town,
The cortege slows its pace right down
The streets are packed, many deep,
Some throw flowers, most just weep
The crowd have come to say farewell,
The church bell rings a low death knell
Regimental standards are lowered down,
As the hero passed through the town
The cortege stops and silence reigns,
The towns folk feel the family's pain.
The nations' flag lowered to half mast,
Our brave hero is home at last.
