1.0SplashPagehttps://warpoets.org.uk/splashpageHelenhttps://warpoets.org.uk/splashpage/blog/author/helen/rich600338<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="AX5KWyLAji"><a href="https://warpoets.org.uk/splashpage/blog/poem/clearing-station/">Clearing Station</a></blockquote><iframe sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" src="https://warpoets.org.uk/splashpage/blog/poem/clearing-station/embed/#?secret=AX5KWyLAji" width="600" height="338" title="“Clearing Station” — SplashPage" data-secret="AX5KWyLAji" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" class="wp-embedded-content"></iframe><script type="text/javascript"> /*! This file is auto-generated */ !function(c,d){"use strict";var e=!1,o=!1;if(d.querySelector)if(c.addEventListener)e=!0;if(c.wp=c.wp||{},c.wp.receiveEmbedMessage);else if(c.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if(!t);else if(!(t.secret||t.message||t.value));else if(/[^a-zA-Z0-9]/.test(t.secret));else{for(var r,s,a,i=d.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),n=d.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),o=new RegExp("^https?:$","i"),l=0;l<n.length;l++)n[l].style.display="none";for(l=0;l<i.length;l++)if(r=i[l],e.source!==r.contentWindow);else{if(r.removeAttribute("style"),"height"===t.message){if(1e3<(s=parseInt(t.value,10)))s=1e3;else if(~~s<200)s=200;r.height=s}if("link"===t.message)if(s=d.createElement("a"),a=d.createElement("a"),s.href=r.getAttribute("src"),a.href=t.value,!o.test(a.protocol));else if(a.host===s.host)if(d.activeElement===r)c.top.location.href=t.value}}},e)c.addEventListener("message",c.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),d.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",t,!1),c.addEventListener("load",t,!1);function t(){if(o);else{o=!0;for(var e,t,r,s=-1!==navigator.appVersion.indexOf("MSIE 10"),a=!!navigator.userAgent.match(/Trident.*rv:11\./),i=d.querySelectorAll("iframe.wp-embedded-content"),n=0;n<i.length;n++){if(!(r=(t=i[n]).getAttribute("data-secret")))r=Math.random().toString(36).substr(2,10),t.src+="#?secret="+r,t.setAttribute("data-secret",r);if(s||a)(e=t.cloneNode(!0)).removeAttribute("security"),t.parentNode.replaceChild(e,t);t.contentWindow.postMessage({message:"ready",secret:r},"*")}}}}(window,document); </script> Straw rustling everywhere. Candle-stumps solemnly stare. Across the nocturnal vault of the church, moans and muffled words go drifting. There is a stench of blood, filth, rot, sweat. Dressings ooze under torn uniforms. Clammy, trembling hands and ruined faces. Bodies rest propped upright but their dead heads loll. In the distance the battle thunders on.  Continue Reading »