11 November 2020

Lest we Forget - and -

 Lest We Forget

Remembrance Day 

on the 
eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month
The bright red poppy is regarded as a resilient flower, which managed to
 flourish despite fields being destroyed by war 


They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
Laurence Binyon


This is a poem that my Grandfather 
William Barwick 
wrote in 1916 about 
how they managed at home, with their 5 sons at war.
Thankfully all came home.

A Mother's Love

Their boys - some in khaki and some in blue,
Through Hells fiery furnace have fought, and come through
And Mothers at home, have fought battles as well
And torments of anguish, as no man can tell.
Watching the postman, hearing his knock
Startled and frightened, trembling in shock,
Searching the papers, in anguish of mind,
Hoping and fearing, that his name she will find.

No news for months, perhaps, Oh! the suspense
The suffering of Mothers, is pain that's intense.
Then, better than no news, a wire, she recieves
To say son is wounded, it even relieves
The tension of feelings, to awful to bare,
Even to know he's alive, is good news to her
 And a short whispered prayer, ascends up above
To God for his goodness and mercy and love.

Please do not copy this without mentioning
William Barwick and where you copied it from
it is copyrighted. 



11 comments:

Shirley Young said...

Wonderful poem xx

cotnob said...

Beautiful Poppies and a beautiful poem Faith, I can't imagine what it was like to be a Mother during those dreadful times.
Pauline - Crafting with Cotnob
x

Beebeebabs said...

BEAUTIFUL

crafty-stamper said...

Beautiful poem Faith
Carol x

Maria said...

Beautiful poems! I remember my Mom saying how my Grandma worried a lot about my Uncle Gerald and Uncle Norb during World War 2. They did come home safe. My father and husband served in the army as did many others in my family. I thank all those who have served to help protect our country and to help others in the world.

MagsB said...

Oh what a wonderful poem! So much of what we see on tv is what the troops went through, in both World Wars, and it's rare that we see the suffering of those who were at home, enduring on tenterhooks until their sons came home.

In WW2 my hubby's Uncle Bill was MIA, he ended up in a PoW camp but the news never reached his Mum. After the War he made his way home and knocked on the kitchen window. Grandma fainted in shock - she thought he was a ghost. The news that he was on his way home arrived 10 days later. Now, to me, that is cruel. The MoD should have made sure that everyone on the Home Front was kept informed.

The Home Front was so vital in keeping the country together, but then, as now, they were never appreciated. Lest We Forget. X

Hetty said...

This is so beautiful, Faith.
A great way to celebrate Remembrance Day.

Mac Mable said...

Beautiful x

Nancy said...

What a wonderful poem that is. Thank you for sharing it!
Your labels are lovely. I still haven't cut any vinyl with my machine. I'll have to add it to my list! :o)

Rosemary said...

What a lovely poem, Faith! Thank you so much for sharing!

Greta said...

Beautiful! Brought tears to my eyes. We are so indebted to our country's heros.