Flotilla of Remembrance
Today, May 21st 2015, a flotilla of boats will set sail from Ramsgate to mark the 75th anniversary
of the Dunkirk evacuation during World War 2.
This poem is a villanelle.
This poem is a villanelle.
FLOTILLA
OF REMEMBRANCE
To
Dunkirk, the little ships did sail
for
tens of thousands, backs to the sea;
an
awesome task they dare not fail
Its
bloody beaches saw hope prevail,
a
town on fire, centre-stage for history;
to
Dunkirk, the little ships did sail
Ordinary
people, answering the call
to
play their part for king and country;
an
awesome task they dare not fail
Injured
and dying due for a miracle
few
could believe they would ever see;
to
Dunkirk, the little ships did sail
Tens
of thousands plucked from hell
under
plain sail transcending the ordinary;
an
awesome task they dare not fail
Soldiers
of Peace, heroes one and all,
applying
humanity’s balm, braving its fury;
to
Dunkirk, the little ships did sail,
an
awesome task they dare not fail
Copyright R. N.
Taber 2010; 2015
[Note:
May 27th - June 4th 1940 saw the remarkable rescue of
tens of thousands of allied troops trapped under enemy fire on the beaches of
Dunkirk. ]
Labels: anniversary, courage, Dubkirk, evacuation, flotilla, heroism, inspiration, poem, poetry, remembrance, rescue, small ships, World War 2
posted by R. N. Taber | 07:12
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