大象传媒

(This poem was written by Joan as she recovered from surgery in her bed by a window)

No vivid splash of colour and playing fan-fares to rent the limpid air. No drum-majors with spinning staffs to herald a contingent of marching men, and aircraft refuellers, radar vehicles and crocodiles to mingle with a mechanised column. No jubilant crowds to partake in the glory of a pageant of heroic splendour! No! Only the warble of song-birds on the leafy sprays accompanied with a tattoo of rain upon the roof-tops. The merry cries of children at the junction of Innage Crescent, blended with the resound of a ball exactly as it strikes the bat of an excited 鈥渃ricketer鈥� and whizzes out beyond the boundary, coming to grief on a bed of antirrhinums in an adjacent front garden.

A lone amplifier installed in a prominent position outside a local hotel, and a score of supporters endeavouring to induce the 鈥渃rowd鈥� to step out to the volume of the rhythm, and take their partners for a 鈥渜uick-step鈥�.

Nevertheless, we are a minute part of a nation at peace, and although war once cast its grim shadows over all, we have borne our hardships, for even the quaint little towns and hamlets issued valiant men to fight the battles, on the land, in the air, and upon the mighty seas. We quietly pay a tribute to all who contributed to the arduous struggle, not forgetting the civilian workers who toiled on the home-front to keep the flag a-flying. Our special thoughts go out to the many who have joined the unseen host, and who, side by side, wing by wing, and stern to stern, led the way to victory.

May we always uphold their shining deeds by striving to attain a true and lasting peace.

by Joan Higgins

This poem was submitted to the People鈥檚 War site by Becky Barugh of the 大象传媒 Radio Shropshire CSV Action Desk on behalf of Joan Higgins and has been added to the site with her permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

See more of Joan's stories:

• I was the first female postie in the war years in Bridgnorth
• We didn鈥檛 really have to take any evacuees鈥�
• 鈥楾he Cheapest Holiday We Could Find鈥�
• 鈥榃e forgot about you!鈥�
• My chance was gone
• Evacuee Remembrances 鈥� Hello and Goodbye (And Hello again)
• Lest We Forget

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