A Generation Betrayed - in memory of Harry Patch

A generation lost
in mire and blood
a generation betrayed
in the Flanders mud

For country and empire
vast numbers died
as generals blundered
and politicians lied

And still they are lying
as in some foreign field
our young men are dying
for some dubious ideal

hatched by statesmen
in the service of greed
they lie to the public
and the public take heed

just as they did
generations before
and send off their children
to die in the war

organised murder
as Harry Patch said
and each day swells
the legion of dead

when will we learn
from the grief and the pain?
when will we turn
from this pointless campaign?

who is to blame
for this vain sacrifice?
a new generation
is paying the price

now Harry's wise words
are endorsed and exclaimed
by those who sent millions
to be slaughtered and maimed

And the newly sacrificed
in fresh graves are laid
the fruit of another
generation betrayed

by Dave, Hull.