Death of An Airman

To the memory of Gus Brittain.

'Abis, Ackerman, Benson and Blunt,

Stand to attention and look to the front,

Chiswell and Barnett

Who told you to fall out,

You’d think this was bush week

Or a Boy Scout Camp call-out;

Get back into line or I might have you all out

Tonight…

   Did you hear what I said to you, Argent?’

 

   ‘But there’s a man dying on the tarmac, Sergeant!’

 

‘I never liked Wednesdays,’ declaimed Sergeant Black,

‘Too soon to go forward, too late to go back!

Dexter and Dooley

I’ll have your attention,

I’m not calling names

For an honourable mention,

I’ll charge the whole bunch for a spark of presumption

Tomorrow…

   I’ll tell you once more, Mister Argent…'

 

   ‘But there’s a man, dying on the tarmac, Sergeant!’

 

‘Haven’t you seen a man faint before?

Harris and Jenkins

Block up that four!

Fill up the gap that your mate has relinquished

We’ll count him as present, but almost extinguished,’

The Sergeant guffawed, in attempts to distinguish

Himself…

   Now what in creation d’you want with me, Argent?’

 

   ‘A man has just died on the tarmac, Sergeant!’

 

David Lewis Paget