The Battle of Balaclava

Rows of us,

Neat rows of us

Standing with the balaclavas ready.

The enemy approached,

Rows of them,

Neat rows of them.

We stood with the balaclavas ready.

I must admit

I was sweating a little

And it wasn’t just the wool in my hands

That was making me sweat,

It was the enemy,

Rows of them,

Neat rows of them.

General Balaclava

Said

‘Steady…steady…steady’

then he said

‘Throw!

Throw the balaclavas!

Throw them now! ‘

And we threw them.

They flopped through the air

Like small black clouds,

Landed on the floor like dirty puddles.

The enemy stepped over them,

Advanced.

Ian McMillan (1956 - )