Second World War Poem by Joyce Hemsley

Memory Lane forever leads back to those
Desperate years, when days were so black.
Sirens were sounding and people were scared.
To their shelters they fled when war was declared.

British Cities were bombed ~ buildings fell to the ground.
Destruction was rife, stones and bricks all around.
Theatres and churches, little was spared
In those terrible raids after war was declared.

Brave men on the home front gave of their all
To bring food drink and shelter, and answer each call.
Families made homeless with dearest ones dead
Was a pitiful sight; with streams of tears shed.

There seemed no ending, the war just raged free
Killings at home, ships lost at sea.
Women and children lost their lives in the fight.
Oh never again must we face such a plight.

But after five years in battle, Victory came fast.
The scourge of hostility ended at last.
Britons and G.I's were Victory Day mad
Revelling and dancing, the scene was quite sad..

As Victory Night passed and daylight broke through
A new life began... peace dawned anew.
We must never forget the multitude who died
The fought for their country and so turned the tide.

From armed conflict to peace. That is how it must stay
Thank Heaven for the glory of that eighth day in May.

By Joyce Hemsley