They say

there is no discernable proof

in reincarnation,

that the soul cannot have lived before

and yet in some Ministerial department

during World War One,

in between the Minister

for Coal and poor

Mr. Asquith dying on his feet

the pen pushers and the also-rans

would have you believe

you can send a boy to war

and see him return

as Government apology

in the form of a letter

or hastily dispatched

telegram.

Ian D. Hall 2016