In the Low Country

Six months’ rent paid in advance.
A white walled, three roomed,
salient,
dug in,
deep in,
the Ardennes.

At night
you would find them outside,
drinking Riesling.
They often ordered a litre
sojourning for around two hours.
Although they believed in etiquette,
both had elbows on the table
with hands holding smiling faces,
it was in these places
where they were happy.

Six months’ rent paid in advance
caused casualties on both sides.
Heavy artillery rolled through in the latter months
leaving an armistice empty,
white walled, three roomed, silent salient,
somewhere south of Couvin.