Stephen Walshe, 'Home For Tea'

[duathir]

Home For Tea
A tribute to the airmen of the Second World War

Overgrown runway
Broken down tower
Many have passed this way
And trodden down grass and flower

Many have left never to return
Some came back with injury unseen
Some came back with an ugly burn
Many came back with broken mind and body lean

Frightened minds in disarray
But still on they fought
Above the wild sea so grey
Under a heaven so fraught

Unknown foe in roaring machine
Must attack from overhead!
Out of the sun unseen
Fire! He’s hit! A fiery ball of red

Victory roll and casual wave
As over the field they roar
Engines growl and tyres scream
As into land they came

Hits reported, damage seen
"I saw him go down " Was the claim
Planes repaired, ready to go
To fight the Fight once again

This I feel and hear from my broken tower
As down I look at the runway overgrown with flower;
To reality I am returned
By a voice with eyes too young to see
"Grandpa, can we go home for tea?"

By Stephen Walshe

[Posted in memory of my father, d. 10/16/07, who was one of those airmen.]