Those Who Fell (A Re-post)

Someone mentioned this poem a little while ago and to be honest, I'd forgotten I'd written it.  I re-read it and decided that it deserves a second airing. 

Those Who Fell

I often stop and wonder why,

and ask 'What it's all about?'

I find myself looking into the sky,

and hear myself scream and shout.

I wake from my sleep,

with my heart beating fast.

And tears I weep,

as I long for safer days past.

More sand and dust,

another day of hell.

Doing what I must,

remembering those who fell.

Winning hearts and winning minds,

trying every day.

Doing this job takes all kinds,

but I wish it would just go away.

I dread each day when we go out to seek,

the enemy with his gun.

But all I have left is one long week,

then my time here will be done.

I hope I can hold my head up high,

and say 'I did my job well'.

And I, with a sigh,

will remember those who fell.

Did We All Enjoy Sir Robert Catesby Night?

As  you all know, the 5th of November was, or should have been, Sir Robert Catesby Night.

In 1605, after Catesby's attempts to secure greater religious tolerance under the rule of  King James, he and his co-conspirators (John Wright, Thomas Wintour, Thomas Percy, Guido (Guy) Fawkes, Robert Keyes, Thomas Bates, Robert Wintour, Christopher Wright, John Grant,Sir Ambrose Rookwood, Sir Everard Digby and Francis Tresham) embarked on a different scheme in which they would replace the King with his 9 year old daughter, princess Elizabeth, by blowing up Parliament, thus killing the King.


As with all good plots ... they were snitched on! 


On the 26 October 1605, William Parker, 4th Baron Monteagle, received and anonymous letter detailing the plans of what we now know as 'The Gunpowder Plot'.


On the 4th of November, a search of parliament revealed one Guido (Guy) Fawkes babysitting enough gunpowder (36 barrels) not only to blow up Parliament, but also a great chunk of surrounding London.


Arrests were made.  


Conspirators fled.  


There was a shoot-out.  


Catesby and others were killed.


But Fawkes and seven other men went to trial and were found guilty on the 27 January 1606.


They were sentenced to be hanged, drawn and quartered.


Over the years, this plot and it's failure were commemorated in various way, including the ringing of bells, religious services and public gatherings and events.


This has evolved into the bonfire and fireworks spectacle that we now know as Guy Fawkes Night, even though Fawkes was not the ringleader and was just a 'man for hire'.  


But somehow Sir Robert Catesby Night doesn't have the same ring to it.


Really though, it should be called 'cruelty to animals night', 'night of the thick idiots parties' or just plain old 'waste of money night'.


Take your pick out of that lot and call it what you like.