大象传媒

By kind permission of the Author

Did the ferries still run in the War?
Did we really go to the beach?
Did I imagine sandy barbed wire?
Quite how far did it reach?
I must have been to the Outdoor Pool
For it had a very familiar feel
When my father found it far too cool.
The Red Sea he said, had more appeal.
I must have been there before, and yet
V.E. had only just happened when
At Dad鈥檚 鈥淩e-pat鈥�, all brown and wet,
He swore he wouldn鈥檛 swim there again.
Have I misremembered other things
That seemed so clear on first recall?
Has the hazy glow that memory brings
Altered the order, melded it all?
I can feel the shrapnel鈥檚 weight in my hand,
See where the bomb had made its mark.
I can hear the barrage balloons in the wind,
Remember the railings around the park
Before 鈥淭he Salvage鈥� took them away.
It must be true. What鈥檚 in my head
Is as clear as if it were yesterday.
A happy time, despite the dread.

鈥楾his story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War site by 大象传媒 Radio Merseyside鈥檚 People鈥檚 War team on behalf of the author and has been added to the site with his/ her permission. The author fully understands the site鈥檚 terms and conditions.鈥�

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