1939 …

A poem about my mom …

A short prelude about this poem.

I found an old photograph of my mom, she was sitting on the grass with her dog on a beautiful September day. I turned it over and the date was Sept 10\1939.

Sept 10 1939, my mom’s birthday and the day Canada declared war. I hadn’t realized that. I began to imagine a 15-year-old girl trying to comprehend the news, keeping in mind the world was much larger in those days, no Internet, people didn’t travel, overseas may well have been Mars.

I looked at her picture, so innocent. I imagined her thoughts and wrote the following poem.

It brings to mind our current situation, with all its fear and uncertainty. I suppose every generation has adversity.

You always said

“ it’s better not to know what lies ahead. “

The day you turned 15 …

War was declared.

The government and the people of Canada

were united in support of Britain and France.

Hitler must be stopped!

Life was never to be the same again.

Happy Birthday, Betty.

Riding your bike,

Friends,

Playing with Smokey … your dog

gosh, how you loved him.

Life was innocent,

so very innocent.

You always said:

“Better not to know what lies ahead. “

Then your brother signed up,

and the boys from the neighbourhood …

Everyone was going away.

Signed up? For what?

Overseas ? Where? Why?

Time went on, the war continued.

Food became scarce,

gas rationed …

People carrying on …

in silent dread.

Another boy arrives home

on the train …

in a wooden coffin.

You always said:

“Better not to know what lies ahead.”