Best 1940 Poems

in the village street
alone our brand new gas lamp
this our Las Vegas,
while we all celebrated
enemy bombs raining down.

© Harry J Horsman 2014...

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Lifting tram rails in 1940,
he was aware of the Louvre...
was aware of a cameraman.
Now we see a black and white world,
where leaves on trees have shed their green,
and the sky is a wish-washy grey...

We see the tram rails piled untidily,
and a bicycle boy on right
fearing...

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The drone of bombers 
In the night sky 
A wail of sirens 
From the terrified city
Where youth and innocence die.

W.A. CHOLT.  Copyright Fergal O Reilly  2018....

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14   May   1940




Rotterdam  was  brung
Gotterdammerung  




..............................................................................
Note
(a )  In 1940 the Germans bombed  most of the city 
centre of Rotterdam,   killing thousands  of civilians 
and destroying  the city centre.
(b )   “Gotterdammerung”...

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Warsaw 1940 certain inhabitants designated
A health risk were ordered to strip naked
Had to shower to become clean this ploy
Caused public humiliation, and showed
Dominence there was also mass quarrantine
Also to your own house that was
Useless in its 'so called mission' 
And in fact caused a rise...

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You can walk right into this image. 
Stand there near the typewriter if you like.
Edward Hopper has allowed plenty of room.
Although he has filled the space very well,
As it is a small office, and her desk is also there.  
It suits the feeling of...

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As our troops tramped in retreat to La Panne,
who was it who held the enemy back?
The Royal Norfolks were part of the plan
to hold the line against German attack
till the last man and the last round was spent.
In Duriez Farm holed up, surrounded,
exhausted, many wounded,...

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My name is being called from the street.
Looking out my window,
Gray.
Hesitating, I linger longer,
Biting my lower lip.
Remembering my child,
I lift her.
Bringing her to my chest tight.
Small breaths warming my skin, as
I tiptoe to the door.
Down the stairs, following
Impressed footprints.
At the last step I
Hear worried whispers.
Families...

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I am the decade of nuclear 
Reaction. 
   I am the Japanese surrender 
Reads the caption. 

   I am the Iron Curtain speech 
By Winston Churchill. 
   I am Congress passes 
The G.I. Bill. 

   I am...

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in the 1940 detective movies
leading men were called gumshoes
women were referred to as molls, dames, chicks or dolls.
it was acceptable for the men to swat a woman’s bottom.
She giggled and acted like she enjoyed it.
it was so normal some of us little ones did not...

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