Remembrance

The bombs explode like fireworks in the night,
A scene that at home would fill us with delight.
And yet while we sit here in darkness we shiver,
For with each flash of light our hope gets dimmer.

‘Cause at night we have time to reflect and mourn,
And hope and pray we will see the Dawn.

Some of the lads quake in fear,
Even in night their shaking is clear.
Other men go around acting all tough,
But even the bravest are finding it rough.

‘Cause at night we have time to reflect and mourn,
And hope and pray we will see the Dawn.

We write letters home, with false facades,
“Having a ball here” and “give our regards!”
We don’t want them to know what it is like,
And how war is worse in the dark of the night.

‘Cause at night we have time to reflect and mourn,
And hope and pray we will see the Dawn.

Dawns come and go, with so many lives,
Boys killed too early to say their goodbyes,
Brothers and friends in arms alike,
Cut down for country, now memories in the night.

‘Cause at night we have time to reflect and mourn,
And hope and pray we will see the Dawn.

After four long years, their darkness did end,
These young boys forced too early to be men.
And for the horrors they saw both day and night,
We remember and thank them for their sacrifice.

- Victoria Shearer, 2014


I took a few other photos at the War Plot in Reading Cemetery today. I was inclined to go with one of the ones of the grand memorial, but Victoria thought this was a better fit with the poem and I'm sure she's right.