It did no good of course
Drawing the black curtain
To exclude the night
Was some comfort in war
As under the table
We crept all wrapped up tight
For kids it was fun
Parents were anxious, scared
So the bombs they still fell
But drawing the curtain
Flashes were not seen
We heard not Mum's scared keen
The planes rumbled above
As wrapped up in her love
We slept peacefully
Innocent, unaware
We woke up in our beds
T'was like every day
I went off to school
Through smoke, rubble and fire
A few missing from class
But lessons are the same
Gas mask by our sides
Was some comfort in war
Image found at http://www.oldpolicecellsmuseum.org.uk
Keen -Wailing sound or cry of sadness or fear
Note: I lived a few miles from London during WW2. It was an exciting time for a boys, not so good for parents.
The planes rimbled above
ReplyDeleteAs wrapped up in her love
We slept peacefully
Innocent, unaware
The beauty of being young in times of crisis. Not really concerned or bothered but impacted on if unlucky!
Hank
This is so poignant. I remember my mother describing Indo-Pak war 1971 and surely enough the windows were boarded up as though 'black curtains' during that frightening era.
ReplyDeleteA wonderful piece of reminiscence
ReplyDeletei love this. the black curtains, WWII, parents afraid, kids adjusting to anything as long as parents are still there -- love how you captured all of that
ReplyDeleteI must say I am thankful to have lived far away from that. And yet, kids seem to be able to accept whatever circumstances there are as normal if they've never known different.
ReplyDelete"Was some comfort in war" False comfort but it helped.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting to think you lived through this piece of history. I would like to know more.
ReplyDeleteWe didn't have the bombs here in the States but did have blackouts, rationing, and the draft. For some reason I always thought you had lived in Aus. forever. But you must have grown up in the U.K. and then emigrated after WWII. Thanks for shsring, I assume this one was mostly true for you.
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Powerful write Jim. Thanks for sharing such memories
ReplyDeleteHappy you dropped in to read mine
much love...
The last stanza is particularly heartbreaking. The world becomes a bit... less, when violence and death are just part of everyday life, especially for children. And these days, that seems to be the norm.
ReplyDeleteI am glad the black curtain blocked out the fear. I think of your father, a watchman, standing on one of the rooftops during the bombing.
ReplyDeleteThe dear protection by the parents - so sweet - and I'm sure they were scared - but the children were not. Wonderful
ReplyDeleteSo ironic this is and yet, how warm and loving. the children unaware, the adults all too aware.
ReplyDeleteI am glad you felt protected in such chaos. It is tough being a parent trying to shelter and not show fear.
ReplyDeleteI feel that children can accept changes if there is just a hand to hold...
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