PARISH CHURCH, BURFORD

Hear them, silent on the leads,

watching their comrades,

the ensign, the corporal and the private

shot by firing squad

amongst the elms in the graveyard below.

Under the leaves in the summer,

Cromwell’s New Model Army

was practising democracy,

selecting all ranks for exemplary death –

the only leveller.

 

 

 

BurfordcomradescorporalCromwelldemocracyelmsenignexemplaryfiring squadgraveyardlevellerNew Model Armyprivate