Poem: On two fronts

'They bided their time, and it has come.'

They bided their time, and it has come.

Beating a battered drum, 

the rim, that wooden hoop circle of sound 

that holds the skin to account.

The Government gives this to the governed,

their opportunity to do the worst day’s work 

they have ever done.

To do battle with their conscience then

as young boys made into men, simply do battle.

Kill one another, each led by different influencers

who have raised them and provided succour 

from the internet of liberty.

To labour is to pray, to pray is harder labour,

harder than the terror that has brought them 

to two fronts, one with the heaviest 

of military metal, professionally weaponised,

the other with paving slabs, rocks and breaking glass. 

And if others, peacemakers, want to open up a third front 

of non-violent poems and prayers be prepared

to meet the full force of opposition to what you dare to do.

Here the fate of Corder Catchpool in 1917 is remembered:

I came first, two years hard labour, commuted to one year

hard labour ‘in recognition of services in ambulance work.’

You will remember that I said I did not make my statement 

with a view to mitigation, but in explanation.

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Steve says: ‘On Two Fronts: Letters of a conscientious objector (1914-18) was written by Corder Catchpool, a Quaker conscientious objector. I am indebted to Michael and Margaret Baker for donating an original copy of the book to Ashburton Meeting House.’

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