11th. November 2008
90th. Anniversary of the end of the First World War

Charles Edwards,b.1883,one of my uncles,lost his life in WW1

In remembrance I have chosen,not from the better known poets such as Brooke,Owen or Sassoon but,to give a woman's view, a poem by Marian Allen.

The Wind on the Downs


I like to think of you as brown and tall,
As strong and living as you used to be,
In khaki tunic,Sam Brown belt and all,
And standing there and laughing down at me.
Because they tell me,dear,that you are dead,
Because I can no longer see your face,
You have not died,it is not true,instead
You seek adventure in some other place.
That you are round about me,I believe;
I hear you laughing as you used to do,
Yet loving all the things I think of you;
And knowing you are happy,should I grieve?
You follow and are watchful where I go;
How should you leave me,having loved me so?


We walked along the tow-path,you and I,
Beside the sluggish-moving still canal;
It seemed impossible that you should die;
I think of you the same and always shall.
We thought of many things and spoke of few,
And life lay all uncertainly before,
And now I walk alone and think of you,
And wonder what new kingdoms you explore.
Over the railway line,across the grass,
While up above the golden wings are spread,
Flying,ever flying overhead,
Here still I see your khaki figure pass,
And when I leave the meadow,almost wait
That you should open first the wooden gate.