In Blightyland, before the war, “Appease him!” the big call Chamberlain, its champion, said, “Hitler will soon fall”
Fetched home a scrap of paper, peace for all declared,
“I’ve put your trust in Germany”, the worst choice ever dared.
He’d returned a hero, spoke outside Downing Street,
Opinions were divided, “Is this victory or defeat?”
Opponents took the high ground, told of danger in disguise,
“This folly shall soon haunt us, as will the Führer’s lies”
In the blinking of an eye, those fears came to pass
The Poles in eastern Europe, broke the camel’s back and arse,
Soon a huge war raging, every country in a twirl,
Storms of bombs and bullets, enveloped the whole world.
From 39 through 45, we were Hitler’s greatest foe,
Once our Winston grabbed the reins, surely victory would flow,
With Evil Joe and FDR, an alliance full of fight,
Our enemy as hard as nails, still none of us took flight.
By the close of 43, end games written on the wall,
Germany had met her match, the Third Reich set to fall,
D-Day launched the final push, the Hun soon on the run,
Every Fritz surrendered, Blighty’s side had won
Every year, the eighth of May, that war is brought to mind,
Adolf blew his brains out, couldn’t face up to his crime,
As the latest decade tumbles, are we more savvy than before?
Is humankind yet smart enough, to never start another war?
Remember with humility, pray for each fallen soul,
Know that by their sacrifice, the world again made whole,
Count the tally of that war, the blood, the lives we lost,
Ask now, “Was the price too high, or was peace worth the cost?”
Roger Fullilove
Pinchbeck
