The Hard Winter (1941) (formerly Welshcakes)
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- Posts: 1983
- Joined: 02 Mar 2016, 18:07
- Location: Between the mountains and the sea
The Hard Winter (1941) (formerly Welshcakes)
After the Battle of Britain came the blackout
and blitz when their cities were reduced
to rubble, then came the battle of the Atlantic,
a million tons of shipping sank in a month.
Their food stocks low, the hard winter took
first the old and then came for the children.
Dad returns from Homeguard duty, the smell
of motor bike oil and petrol hang
on his khaki greatcoat. Pipes freeze
in the lavatory, ice castles hang
down on the pipes.
He hangs his steel helmet on the door,
plastic neck guard, gas mask,
and haversack, a .303 rifle hung
out of reach, his bayonet
in my hands, plaything
for a small boy.
Mam baking griddle cakes,
I hang on her pinafored thighs,
the smell of flour, and something nice.
My bedroom cold as an arctic floe.
Illness grips in its awful throe:
vomiting and fevered nights
of darkness, I see death in the mirror
of the wardrobe door.
Mam’s eyes black with fear,
deep as glacial pools.
and blitz when their cities were reduced
to rubble, then came the battle of the Atlantic,
a million tons of shipping sank in a month.
Their food stocks low, the hard winter took
first the old and then came for the children.
Dad returns from Homeguard duty, the smell
of motor bike oil and petrol hang
on his khaki greatcoat. Pipes freeze
in the lavatory, ice castles hang
down on the pipes.
He hangs his steel helmet on the door,
plastic neck guard, gas mask,
and haversack, a .303 rifle hung
out of reach, his bayonet
in my hands, plaything
for a small boy.
Mam baking griddle cakes,
I hang on her pinafored thighs,
the smell of flour, and something nice.
My bedroom cold as an arctic floe.
Illness grips in its awful throe:
vomiting and fevered nights
of darkness, I see death in the mirror
of the wardrobe door.
Mam’s eyes black with fear,
deep as glacial pools.
Re: Welsh Cakes and War
I think I’ve seen this in another permutation. I believe this latest has nailed it.
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- Posts: 1168
- Joined: 14 May 2011, 20:30
Re: Welsh Cakes and War
Frank,I do not have anything intelligent to say--except that this is a finished poem and I like it. The last stanza and the penultimate stanza are both worked very well,and the slang adds to the local colour, if I may say so.
S
S
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- Posts: 1983
- Joined: 02 Mar 2016, 18:07
- Location: Between the mountains and the sea
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- Posts: 2154
- Joined: 18 Apr 2005, 04:57
Re: Weapons and Welshcakes at War
Hi Frank,
"at war" not needed in the title
Michael (MV)
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- Posts: 1983
- Joined: 02 Mar 2016, 18:07
- Location: Between the mountains and the sea
Re: Weapons and Welshcakes
Thanks Michael, shall use.
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- Posts: 1983
- Joined: 02 Mar 2016, 18:07
- Location: Between the mountains and the sea
Re: Of Welshcakes at War (1942)
Return to the old title, sorry Michael, my preference.
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- Posts: 1983
- Joined: 02 Mar 2016, 18:07
- Location: Between the mountains and the sea
Re: Hard Winter (1941) (revised to make more universal setting)
Revised again, tinkering at the last minute, edited to make more
of a wider setting removed non-english words.
of a wider setting removed non-english words.