Do you remember when bombs whistled
And hot shrapnel rattled roofs?
We sought shelter in a deep subway station.
On the platform people were packed in like herrings
On makeshift sleeping bags.
We found a corner where we could sit
And lean against the tiled wall.
A wall plastered with plackards
Encouraging one to Dig for Victory,
Join the ATS, and warnings that Walls Have Ears.
We held hands while Dante`s Inferno
Thundered at street level.
Sometimes, even at this level the ground shuddered.
We emerged to the high wail of the `all-clear` siren
To find the street ankle deep in shattered glass.
Fire hoses criss crossed, writhing like copulating serpents
Shattered buildings stood against the sky
Like bad dentistry.
Fires raged everywhere.
Returning to your place, still untouched,
There was no power for a brew.
We spent the last hours of our time together
In the light of flickering fires.
In the morning when trains again ran
I had to rejoin my unit,
And had sailed within a week.
We never met again.
I often wonder now, sixty-six years on
Do you ever tell your grand-children
And great grand-children
About those times?
And what might have been,
But never was.
A contest entry
- Take Me There Part I : London (any time period) by Everwind Rising.
600 points, ended July 19, 2007, 4 entries
Silver trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - allpoetry's best historical poet; you? by epitome.
300 points, ended October 23, 54 entries
• next poem in this contest, • Add to finalists list, or remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
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splendid writing! such a moving poem with uplifting lines that show you know your subject well. thank you for sharing your talent with us, here!
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This played in my mind as a glorious black and white film on a rainy Sunday afternoon,I was half expecting Sir Johnny Mills to be stood reading this over my shoulder,it was just drenched in authenticity which I suppose comes with being there at that moment in history, just a superb effort deserved the gold.
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This is fabulous. You have taken me to London during WWII with such vivid imagery. I love the way you use similes ("...like herings,...like copulating serpents, Like bad dentistry") to paint your scene within the cavern of the mind. I really like the personal story that you weaved into the poem as well. Great!
Thanks for taking me to WWII London! -
Awww, this is kinda sweet. I thought it was a great story. This line stuck out and caught my attention. "Like bad dentistry.
Fires raged everywhere."
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