The Field - Fish

The body lay on fragrant earth under empty skies in an open field

A shallow grave, unmarked, unnoticed, in crumbling furrows carved by rusted

ploughs

They will bury your empty coffin;

they will raise for you a

Stone

They will know you fell in glory

In the corner of some lonely foreign field

Broken cloud, fleeting shadows, silhouettes are scattered

Cross the sky

The hollow laughter fills the heavens

And echoes round a still and silent field

Where you have climbed Jacob’s ladder;

where you saw the light of God

And from the voices of his angels the Truth was heard, the Truth was heard

I have slept in the shadows of moonstruck trees

A mossy pillow my rock of dreams

The wood smoke lingers among smouldering leaves

Like my thoughts are carried away on a stiffening breeze

To the domes and spires, the glittering towers

Of palaces of kings and thrones of power

I will climb Jacob’s ladder;

I will see the light of God, I will hear from the

tongues of angels his Holy words

I take the field in honest battle

My father’s sword is sure in hand

My heart my shield, my dreams my armour

My banners high my hopes are gathered

Fortunes home I’ll surely carry

And the bells will ring in honour of my name

Should I falter, should I tarry

Should I hesitate, should I fall

Then bury me in your memories

Let our children hear the bugle call

Let them climb Jacob’s ladder;

let them see the light of

God

Let them hear from the tongues of angels his Holy words

Let them take the field