DRUMMER RIGBY

..the randomness: it could have been any soldier,
just as found, crossing the road near the barracks
as they hunted in their Vauxhall Tigra;

the futility: his death, their failed martyrdoms;

the iconography: his bearded murderers brandishing
their weapons, issuing statements for the media,
going viral – like his photo in dress uniform;

the kindness: from strangers in that terrible street;

the bandwagoning, the cant,
the high-horseing, the rabble-rousing:
variously from face-bookers, police,
politicians, tabloids, tweeters;

the closure: military funeral, life sentences, memorials;

the grief: a widow, a son, families…

 

 

 

barracksclosurefutilitygrieficonographykindnesslife sentencemartyrdommemorialmilitary funeralrandomnesssoldierThey throw in Drummer Hodge - to restThomas HardyUncoffined - just as found