Under the Cover

Under The Cover. . You can never ever Tell a book by it’s cover As I was later to discover The Lady in the Nursing home The old man across the way All have a story to tell Hidden away . Some people I’ve known for years Have suddenly touched my heart And left me in tears When they reviled their past And nightmares and fears . Like my own dear Father Shot and wounded A prisoner of war With only a tiny piece of bread to eat And nothing more . The sweet old Lady I talked to In Worksop in a store Who told me she was the last surviving victim Of Dachau in the war . The old man down our street A nicer man you could ever meet A rear Lancaster tail gunner Or the hardship of a devoted Mother Her husband left her for another Someone who lost their family And had no other . Those who suffered in the blitz Those who lost a loved one Aboard a ship Never found always missed The nurse who gave her all and put others Before herself To help the sick . The Pals sent to die in another far off land The luckier who returned Minus a leg or no hand The coal miner unground Who kept the home fires burning The Steelworkers who gave their all To keep England’s wheel turning . The bomb disposal and mine clearer's The lifeguard on the bay The emergency services and law enforcers Who put their life in danger for us every day . The one who gives But doesn’t seek recognition or reward The one who fights for justice and war to cease And silently prays for peace . A million stories left untold Of unsung heroes young and old No one should judge anyone Like a book by their cover For we all have a story And who knows what we might discover. . Peter Dome©2020.