My mother did not know for two years if he was alive or dead. They married just before the war, knowing it was coming. He was at that time in the Territorial Army in England. A volunteer. Once they were able to send things out to the prisoners, probably via Red Cross she would send him little poems that he enjoyed by Patience Strong.
I was cleaning the other day and opened a drawer and found them. I thought I would share some of them now and then. Patience Strong wrote simple poems, and during war time they were to cheer people. Like Vera Lynn did with her songs.
There was a "Quiet Corner" in the local paper and mum collected some of the poems from there
Breaking softly on the beach in little frills of foam.
Can this be the same great ocean broad and deep and wide,
That bears the mighty ships of war upon its rolling tide.
So full of peace it is today - the waves upon the sand,
Linger here as if they loved the feel of this dear land.
Kind the sea has been to us - has shaped our destiny.
Has sheltered us and made us now the island of the free
By...............Patience Strong. (wartime)
5 comments:
How interesting. I can't imagine what your Mum went through as she waited for a word...any word. I love that poetry and the image. xo Diana
oh my gosh, thats so sad, two years, not knowing, such beautiful poetry, such a tender post,
We can only imagine their strength at such trials! Thank you so much Janice for sharing this with us!
Love the poem (have a special book I record little things such as this in).
God bless,
Oh, thank you very much for sharing this poem
It would have been terrible, the not knowing if your loved one was safe. I have a great respect for that generation, I suspect that you do as well.
Take care.
Love,
Kay
What a treasure to have those! My husband was a child near Coventry during the war and his older brother was in the Coldstream Guards. I don't remember the poems though. Thank you for sharing what are really treasures as well as family memories!
Ruth
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