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Gunner

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This poem, which I wrote between 2020 & 2021 was inspired by the story of a dog who, during the Second World War, lived with the crew of an anti-aircraft gun defending one of the UK’s target cities. He would hear the enemy bombers long before air-raid warning sounded. His instincts were so well-trusted, that the alert bell would be rung as soon as he started staring at the sky with his tail twitching. Thus the battery were never caught napping.

I have seen a couple of variations of the original story, but this is the one I chose to write about.

Gunner What has woken you, Gunner? What is it you hear? Can you sense the beat of heavy engines drawing near? There’s been no alert, Gunner, the lads are all at ease. But you know something’s up, don’t you? Won’t you tell us please? I heard that little growl, Gunner, low and in your chest. Is the time right now, Gunner? Should we end our rest? You’re straining at the sky now Gunner. What is it you see? A skein of passing geese, or our dreaded enemy? I see your hackles raised Gunner, it’s time to ring the bell. The other guns will follow suit, they trust your instincts well. The crews are all closed up, Gunner, before the siren’s wail, We all know you were right from the twitching of your tail. There they are above, Gunner, just like your growl predicted, And thanks to you, we’ve limited the damage they’ve inflicted. The enemy has fled, Gunner, they’ve turned around and run. Now go and get your well-earned rest, underneath our gun.

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