Larkin wrote in ’64
About such innocence lost
A golden jubilee of time
Faces in the mist
Young lads barely out of school
Taking the boat to France
‘Home by Christmas’ was the shout
Fat chance! No chance
I joined up in ‘64
Seventeen years of age
Going into religion
Leaving the world’s stage
Never should have done that thing
Far too young to know
Let me go where others go
Let me learn to sing
’64 was long ago
World’s moved on a bit
74 my age now
Now I’ll manage it
Live each day with confidence
Savour every drop
Share the wisdom easily
Till it’s time to stop
Brian Fahy
22 May 2021
Erris Poetry 