MOM'S WAR
Strong tea and stiff upper lip
And sugar in the tea
If you could get it.
Down at the Sweatbox on Saturday night,
Dancing the tango with all your might.
Your feet were light
And you wore a blouse
You made of parachute silk.
Under the table on air raid nights.
You were so afraid, you said.
You were so afraid,
The year you turned 12.
The year of ration coupons and gas masks.
"It was an unreal time," you said,
Long after that year,
The year you turned 12.
DAD'S WAR
He would have greeted the Germans
With his pitchfork,
He said when I asked
What he'd have done
In the eventuality.
But England won.
When we were kids,
He tried to make a funny story
Of everything that happened,
The evacuation from London to Lewes
And the premature return,
During the sitzkrieg
And before the blitzkrieg.
My dad was more stubbon than Hitler
And just as stubborn as Churchill,
Just as determined.
But he was only 12.
Eventually, he stayed in his room.
No one could make him go into the shelter,
Not even his mother
So she let him stay in his room.
She was always a great one
For building character.
But he was only 12.
He stayed in his room.
He was only 12
But maybe he thought,
As people did, back in those days,
If it's got my number on it...
In his later years,
He was hard of hearing
Though he never talked of that,
Not even to a doctor,
As far as anybody knew.
The bombs had been so loud,
In the ears of a boy
Alone in his room
When he was only 12.
Author notes
This piece may not seem like a celebration but it does celebrate the lives of my parents. They both survived childhoods marked by war and lived long, interesting, productive lives.
Notes for Daddy contest: I hope you don't mind reading the part about my Mom. I don't really want to separate the two sections completely.
A contest entry
- (= Prewrites!!!!! ENTER NOW!!!!!!!!! =) by xCandieKissesx.
525 points, ended May 19, 2008, 79 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Whatever Your Heart Desires by xxhoopstar21xx.
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1000 points, ended June 30, 2008, 160 entries
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1410 points, ended August 12, 2008, 28 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - "Prewrites " + Plus by wingsofgold25.
600 points, ended November 20, 2008, 67 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
So, what's your opinion of this?
Comments
1 - 9 of 9
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I love how this is laid out, you really get a contrast and I think that is something I'd never really considered. Some of your images are really vivid, and I like the repetition of
"he was only 12" -
This is very effective; I like it a lot - I didn't realize that both of your parents grew up in England. I can imagine a young boy growing quite defiant under these circumstances. Thank you for sharing this memoir of your parents with me.
All the best,
ea
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A very difficult poem for me to comment on although it is a very good write,
You see I remember the day they bombed Pearl Harbor.
And not long after every thing was rationed
I still have some of the ration stamps you had to have to buy food with. ( good reminders of how bad it realy was) I understand about your Dad's and Mom's War.
Thank you for your entry and good luck in the contest.
ED,
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Very intelligently composed. I love you ended it as it was shocking to discover after such a different tone throughout the composition. Dramatic and sad although it is a celebration. Thanks for entering, all the best!
~Emily~ xx
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A delightfully different poem and undoubtedly a celebration of your parents.
Great reading and I am delighted you have entered.
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This is very dramatic...
...I like the repetition of the 'only 12'. I like the way you have spaced your poem and it is true, it does tell a lot about your parents. I was born during the war, but I have often thought about the air raids like your Dad did.
You have put a lot of emotion in this poem.
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huh... interesting topic.
bores me to death, no offense, but im really sick of hearing about ww2 [cuz of history class and such lol] well anyways it was well written and thanks for the entry; good luck -
Aww. This is very beautiful, yet tragic. The imagery and flow was great! Thanks for the entry and good luck!
+ Jackie -
Hi JudyJudyJudy
I remember the sirens as well and covering up the windows - but we were on Canada's west coast - so it was preparing for a Japanese attack - I like your poem here - it tells a story we need to hear - I have a poem on here called "Finally Pardoned" that you may like - your dad is about 5 years oldeer than me I guess - keep on writing my dear - Bless God _ Joe - (Dobar Dan)--------------------------------------hagd
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