The village graveyard

The church bells chime no more
Guns have been let loose
We are now at war

Daddy has gone to fight
He had a brave face
Mother's filled with fright

She fears he'll not return
More than bombs that fall
Houses hit and burn

The smells of smoke and fire
Lack of food and fuel
Mum cries, things are dire

We chatter when alone
In bedroom tucked in
Hearing the planes drone

Want Dad to come today
Mum just shakes her head
Silent, that's her way

She fears we'll lose him now
Waits for phone to ring
Hope he's back somehow

He died on foreign field
All those months ago
His life unfulfilled

At funeral she cries
His face on leaflet
Tears in all our eyes

Image found at  https://www.ww2cemeteries.com/uk-bed-silsoe-st-james-churchyard.html