大象传媒

We didn't live in a Lane, Avenue, Close or Way,
But in a Street with Back-to Back houses,with no room to play.
With one room down stairs where we'd all live and eat
And with eight in the family that was quite a feat.
In two rooms upstairs we all had to sleep
It meant that life was hard
Especially when you shared a toilet with all the neighbours
Which was outside and way up the backyard.

We never had a wardrobe in which our clothes were kept
The shirt you wore during the day was the same in which you slept.
Hand me down trousers too big, that came up to your chin
Holes in your boots, where the water came in.

But "We were just kids" and we made our own fun
Playing cops and robbers, arguing who was to have the gun.
Or down on the bombed site swinging like Tarzan on a rope.
For we lived for the day, and tomorrow we looked forward with hope.

The war was on you see, with planes flying overhead
Dropping their bombs and incendaries, so tomorrow you might be dead.
This was a fact, though not in our thoughts
"We were just kids" playing hide and seek trying not to get caught.

We still had to go to school in those war time years
And we had to walk all the way, but we had no fears
'Cause "We were just kids" who didn't understand the plight
Of others that suffered from the bombing last night
We just searched for schrapnel on the latest bombed site.

On Sunday's I went to church where I sang in the choir.
St Basil's & St John's it was called after St John's was burnt down in a fire.
I served at the Altar, and I rang the church bell,
I rang it so proudly, they would have heard it in hell.

"Let us pray that peace will come
And our boys will soon be home
Back from far and distant lands
To their families and welcoming hands"

Then the day came, the war was over, Europe was at peace.
No more bombing and all fighting to cease.
But,"We were just kids", and didn't really understand,
Why the grown ups were smiling, dancing, singing, and shaking everyone's hand.
It seem they've all gone crazy or was it just a dream.
But, "We were just kids" who wanted to join in,
Especially, the street party with cakes, jelly, and cream.

No more blackout with searchlight and siren,
Or down in the shelter with straw filled palliasse to lie on.
We can play out all day, and later at night.
No worries about the dark, when our lamplighter once more lights our street light.
It seemed like the sun had come to shine
Peace conquered over hate,a moment of calm to decend.
But I'll always remember those days of my liftime,
When I lived as child in wartime Deritend

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