Wherefore, my friend, we're fighting here
this bloody battle, tell me, what
we are killing for - dishonour rules wherefore
The enemy - a man like me, began his life like you'd begun
remember, friend, a loving mother's beloved son.
How many killed on battlefields are never to come home
to kiss again their mother's cheeks, their wife's lips and sister's brow?
Instead of this they're staining now
the fighting grounds
with purple blood of theirs
and as you listen you may hear
the begging pleading crying
and sometimes, friend,
the silent sound of praying.
My buddy soldier, are you thinking now how this will end for us?
Wherefore, my friend?
Let us accuse this slaughter fury hell
But even more, let's take a stand and pray,
there'll come a day, our children, friends,
will realize that battle's but a stupid word
for silly games they used to play.






Wherefore, my friend, we're fighting here
tell me, dear friend, wherefore
we're killing here - dishonour rules wherefore?
The enemy - a man like me, began his life like you and me
remember, friend, in mother's loving arms.
How many killed on battlefields are never to come home
to kiss again their mother's cheek and wife's lips and sister's brow
Instead of this are staining now
the fighting grounds
with purple blood of theirs
and as you listen you can hear
the begging pleading crying
and sometimes, friend,
the silent sound of praying.
My buddy soldier, are you thinking now, how this will end for us?
Wherefore, my friend?
Let us accuse this slaughter fury hell
But evenmore, let us now pray,
there'll come a day, our children, friends,
will realize that battle's are but stupid words
for silly games they used to play.

Dies ist der Versuch einer Übertragung eines Reimgedichtes in Deutsch, das ein Kriegsveteran des Zweiten WK geschrieben hat, der Cousin meines Vaters. Fallschirmspringer auf Kreta, Lebensretter eines griechischen Jungen, Afrikafeldzugteilnehmer, involviert in die Invasion in der Normandie, in Kriegsgefangenschaft in Schottland. Er wird 86 Jahre alt und möchte im Mai nach Kreta, auf das Treffen der Veteranen der Fallschirmspringer dort. Vielleicht gibt es dort Gelegenheit, seine Verse in der englischen Version vorzutragen. Wenn jemandem ein Fehler in der englischen Übertragung auffällt, wäre ich froh, wenn er es anmerkt.
Die Reime schaffe ich leider nicht zu übertragen, mir geht es v.a. um die Grammatik.
Im Deutschen heißt es "mein Freund", ich konnte mich nicht entscheiden, ob ich "my friend", "dear friend" oder "buddy" benutzen soll, buddy ist wohl das Wort mit dem sich Soldaten untereinander ansprechen.