Cassino
They’ve taken all our tanks away
To service and renew. They say
We’ll have to fight as infantry.
The Poles have fought without relief
For several weeks and , ours the brief
To deputise and give them leave;
Whilst, overhead the bombers fly
With total air-supremacy
To pound and smash the monastery.
We’re issued rifles, tommy-guns,
Hand grenades and mortar bombs;
Tools for the work that’s soon to come.
We leave our transport, shoulder packs,
With shaking legs and aching backs
In darkness climb the mountain tracks.
Still, overhead the bombers fly;
Wing to wing they fill the sky,
To pound and smash the monastery.
The Poles descend with shouts and cheers
To days of leave and rest, but we
In silence contemplate our fears.
Soon dawn will chase the stars away
To bring a smoking, darkling day
Of thunder and atrocity;
And overhead the bombers fly,
Their cargoes raining from the sky
To pound and smash the monastery.