All Posts By

BJ Lewis

Poetry

DON’T DO IT

Don’t do it brother, I’ve still got your back, just like I did when we served in Iraq. I can see that you’re hurting in ways I can’t fix, but find strength in the fact that I’ve still got your six. The bond that ties us has never been stronger…
BJ Lewis
10th September 2015
Poetry

Ramp Ceremony in the Snow

Ranks of soldiers flank the way to honour the fallen who leave here today. On a frozen airfield, white with snow we wait in silence for the coffins to show. The cold cuts through us, we feel its bite but our thoughts are with those who have died in this…
BJ Lewis
10th February 2012
Poetry

Ode to a civilian

You hope you can get another day out of that shirt, I just hope for a day here where no-one gets hurt. You dream of a lottery win, riches, fast cars, I dream of seeing my wife again, and she won’t notice the scars. You hope that your day’ll go…
BJ Lewis
8th February 2012
Poetry

“Silent Night: An Afghan Parody”

Silent night, holy night, But for troops at war there is no respite. No Christmas at home with all the good cheer, no warm house with family and nothing to fear. No chance of sleeping in peace, no chance of sleeping in peace. Silent night, holy night, The enemy want…
BJ Lewis
6th January 2012
Poetry

Shame

We proudly served and followed the flag, hailed as heroes – liberators of Iraq. We fought with courage, faced the ultimate test, with honour and valour we all tried our best. We achieved our objectives, forced the change of regime, counted our dead, young lives wasted it seems: As with…
BJ Lewis
28th October 2010
Poetry

My Heart Beats Faster

A bee wakes me as it buzzes at my bedroom window, it makes my heart beat faster. An engine backfires in the shopping center car park, it makes my heart beat faster. A car door slams in the quiet of the night, it makes my heart beat faster. I find…
BJ Lewis
18th May 2010
Poetry

Daddy’s Girl

She sits there in the classroom, hides her face behind her hair, no-one must see her eyes or note the anxiety that lurks there. Her father has gone away to serve the Queen in foreign lands, and she worries while he’s gone in ways that no-one understands. She daren’t think…
BJ Lewis
12th February 2010
Poetry

Politics

The politics don’t matter, the wherefores and the whys, If you’re against the foreign policy, the soldiers shouldn’t be criticised. They joined to serve as best they can, make the world a better place, Defend our nation’ interests, they serve with honour and good grace. You voted in the government,…
BJ Lewis
2nd October 2009
Poetry

Six Months Later

It feels a lifetime ago since I was there. But I can still taste the atmosphere, feel the warm air. We’ve bid farewell to that war now, we’ve counted our dead, We’ve dusted ourselves down and refocused ahead. But there’s no rest for old soldiers, there’s still work to do,…
BJ Lewis
11th May 2009