A poem by Rick Stroud

Dear All,
In response to my ‘Plea For Poetry’ today I have received 3 beautiful specimens already. Keep them coming in!
Here is a poem written for us by Rick Stroud, the author of ‘The Book of the Moon’, film-maker and guest at London Literature Festival. Thanks so much Rick. Rosie Goldsmith

‘Promised land’ by Rick Stroud

Happy birthday Paddy mate
Eighty if you’d been a day
Eighty if you’d made it back.

According to Met Office records,
Nineteen forty was a very hot summer.

Dozing round Dispersal
‘Tonight must give the folks a ring
It’s the waiting makes you want to scream.’

Ting-a-ling the telephone.

‘Here we go. What a bind”
‘Third time today
Bloody Hun.’
‘Good luck old boy,
Back before they close’
‘Line them up, don’t forget’
‘OK, sure thing, will do.’
‘Quickly. Contact. Chocks away.’

All you’ve got is height.

‘Skipper! Bandits. Ten o’clock.’
‘Tally Ho’
‘I’m going in’
‘Dougie’s had it!’
‘Poor old Ginger’s flamerino.’

Fear in three dimensions.

You copped it Paddy
Shortly after tea.

‘Christ! What was that?
My foot won’t work.
Oh Mum I hate this flying game
One minute England now you’re dead.
Help me God
Don’t let me burn.
This is it chaps.
Cheerio.’

After which
You hit the sea.

The splashing, spinning, sparkling spray
Smashed up your plane.

Birthday boy you’re still nineteen
Frozen in your dazzling death.

Some things you’ve missed:

Vietnam
Johnny Rotten
Margaret Thatcher
Abu Ghraib.

Any good?

Were we worth it Paddy?
Have we done you proud?