"In Flanders field the poppies blow"
And in the BBC News Studio
Not one lapel without its token
The word from above, its rule unbroken.

The mouthpieces who cheered the war,
Who questioned not, who played the whore,
For one short minute stop their lies
But still won't hear the orphans' cries.

Then, back to business, spin the yarn
Assure them we must bomb Iran.

Doggerel will have to do. Seeing those dissembling cowards, twisters of the truth, paying hypocritical tribute to those whose fates they helped to seal continues to rankle year after bloodsoaked year.

Now for a real poet -

THE GENERAL
(Siegfried Sassoon)

"Good morning; good morning!" the General said
When we met him last week on our way to the line.
Now the soldiers he smiled at are most of 'em dead,
And we're cursing his staff for incompetent swine.
"He's a cheery old card," grunted Harry to Jack
As they slogged up to Arras with rifle and pack.
. . .
But he did for them both by his plan of attack.