Bardeen Poem by Norman Hadland

I had a brother
By the south sea-shore
Not by line of blood
But from the bloody line of duty
I was welcomed
From my Spartan cot
To his married home
We’d jape and laugh a lot
In a golden happy pause
Content
Between the politician’s wars
Parting
No time for farewell
Glass of wine or
Talk of ‘Auld Lang Syne’
Just ‘Bardeen’

Today
I asked along the south seashore
About my brother
‘Passed away’ they say
Only days before
‘His wife still walks this way’

We meet
Her face the same
Beneath grey hair
A recognising smile
Warmth and sadness
We talk a little while
Until
Another lady standing nigh
Says, ‘Come along my dear’
Silently we say ‘Bardeen’
I have a sister
By the south sea –shore

Norman Hadland

*Bardeen – Forces slang ‘See you later’, vaguely,
possibly from Arabic.