Solemnly and with reverence

Thirty recruits stood

in the empty barrack

sweating into their suits

while the instructing sergeant

delivered a brief overview

of what they could expect

during the next eight weeks

of basic training and that

this was the last chance

to change their minds

and head for the station:

‘Speak now or forever

hold your peace,’

and as a nervous hand

went up somewhere

near the back,

the sergeant continued:

‘Too fucking late son…’

John H Davies

31st March 2011