now down below

if you have measured breath in weight of gold

no one has spoken of the need for haste

nor of the reasons why the flock were chased

out of safe shelter back into the cold

such a short time ago now just enrolled

in this man's army and out on the waste

not one of us but knows we are disgraced

by this sad service and now you are told

say this when time returns you to your place

in the long record of the failing years

that we have done our task and gone our way

said our defiant words right to your face

cast off our clothes and let loose our tears

but never once have we refused our pay