Categories: War
On VE Day we were still living in London
When I saw for the first time folks having fun
Shouting and clapping, waving flags on high
As an eight year old didn’t fully know why
But I joined in dancing nearly all night long
Crying and laughing between every song.
Prisoners of war joined us round the fire singing
Their deep, rich voices blending and bringing
Wonderful harmony that enhanced the praises
And brought even more joy to everyone’s faces
For at long last we have the victory
After so many years of tragic misery
Life would return to us all once more
To how our lives were before the war
But normal life as it had been long ago
Was delayed for sorting things out was slow
Rationing of food still very much here
And lots of bombed sites they had to clear.
My family left London to live by the sea
But playing on the beach was not to be
For barbed wire was stretched along the prom
Fear too that there might perhaps be a bomb
So although victory was declared in forty-five
And we were all glad to be alive
It would be many years before things were right
And children stopped having bad dreams at night
Months before we would all have release
Of hearts and minds that could rest in peace.
