Flames

We were flying back
              after flattening Coventry,
all of us cheerful,
confident young men,
                                        all heroes.

On the return landing,
amazingly
we saw that the airfield was deserted -
strange,
for we had left with many aircraft,
the mission a great success.

Then from the ruins of a hanger
they appeared,
people of all ages, families,
all wore gasmasks;
their torn clothes smoldering.

Bewildered we raced back
to the bomber.

Aboard once more
we lumbered into the night sky,
                                    where later
we were shot down
      as we fire-bombed Dresden.

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