大象传媒

These poems have been submitted by Lewis Raymond Haddock at Grimsby Central Library.

THE BARBER

Snip,another handful
Of Jewish hair
To clip;
No scream, no shout
The destination
That what it was
All about.

A Jewish barber
That's what it said
Under a Yellow Star
It read
Occupation Barber
Nationality Yiddish
Destination Auschwitz
Finish!

Everyday he stood
Behind his chair
Three handfuls
Three snips
Blonde, brunette, black hair
His tools the music
Of his inward pain
Just a barber with a number
No name.

He didn't have to be polite
Or cultivate their custom
He avoided their
Fearful eyes of fright
Nor pomanade and dust them
Just nod and hope
The Lord will not reject them.

BAYEUX
Bayeux nost so far away today,
Not so many miles to tramp
We treat them with contempt;
But then every yard
Was shell and bullet rent.

Bayeux twin towers to the Lord,
Its quiet country air
Then filled with slow retreat;
Now lips stained with summer fruits,
Then blood red, the colour of defeat.

Bayeux invaded ancient stones
Supporting foreign feet and many foregin bones;
They click and clack and wink their polished eyes
And revel in clink of tills
And tourists passing by.

Bayeux you farce,
The whore of Normandy,
They will shake with any hand
That keep their pockets free.
Crafty eyed they seize the situation,
Thars got ma brass,
But not ma absolution.

Written for a friend in the East Yorkshire Regiment.

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