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Saturday 20 August 2011

V


V1s and V2s
shattered my boyhood.
Not that I bothered,
the shrapnel was all.
We collected the bits
from those shattered lives -
and now I remember
none of it fits
the way it did then.

And V stood for Victor,
a cousin of mine;
quite distant, I think,
but here for the war
from Toronto - a Royal
Canadian airman, no less.
His V, volunteer -
which he did: the far East,
timing it well,
to be back in Toronto
when peace was declared.

V was for Victory
before very long.
We had a street party.
I wrote my first song.

The Poets United, Thursday Think Tank prompt was a suggestion to take the third letter of our first name. For me that is V.

21 comments:

Jinksy said...

I'd throw violets, if I had any...:)

Mary said...

I do like what you did with your "V." It speaks (v)olumes!

Scarlet said...

Thanks for sharing your story Dave...I like the V that came out of this prose ~

vivinfrance said...

v is my third letter, and we must be much of an age. I've written a lot about those war years, but your poem says it all so much better.

Laurie Kolp said...

Valiant!

I like the presentation of this.

Deborah said...

Your V really paints a picture ... wonderfully done!

The Weaver of Grass said...

Yes - a good choice Dave. I remember them too - the horrible sound they made - and even more horrible when it stopped. We had lots of airfields round us (in flat lincolnshire) and we collected bits of 'airoplane glass' from crashed planes, along with other bits and pieces.

Philip Thrift said...

I like the way your letter brought back varied memories.

WyomingDiva said...

I love this take on the prompt - a peek into 'old' days. Thank you!

Carl said...

The strength of your poems that are reflective is extraordinary. You set the mood for a time and place so wonderfully.

Carl

barbara said...

I like this. For kids, without much to use for comparison, "what is" is normal. I can imagine myself at that age, playing in the debris.
I like the way you bring a little of the child back with you, giving equal weight to things that adults don't value that way. You might consider not using shattered lives in that context: it's the present commenting. maybe add a broken object and let us draw the conclusion.

I love that the song cones from it all

Rachel Cotterill said...

That's a fun prompt - and I enjoyed your take on it.

Sheila said...

A theme of memories strung together by the letter V. Nicely done.

Windsmoke. said...

Fantastic poem about a Very bleak time in British history, you could also say a Very sad walk down memory lane :-).

Anonymous said...

David, thanks for sharing your personal life with us. The shrapnel bits scared me at first, but once you settled on Victor, I was more hopeful. And the final two lines were wonderful. Thanks, Amy
http://sharplittlepencil.wordpress.com/2011/08/19/three-prompts-three-poems/

Dave King said...

Jinksy
Bless you. I'll accept the thought as virtual violets.

Mary
Thanks for the vote of confidence!

Heaven
The prompt was visionary.

vivinfrance
I agree we must have a lot in common. I find I'm returning to those years increasingly as time goes by. Can't agree with your last sentence, but thanks for it.

Laurie
Good to hear so. Thanks.

Deborah
Thanks for your visit and for the comment. Both are really appreciated.

The Weaver of Grass
I remember one occasion when the engine stopped. I was in the garden, home from school through illness. I rushed in to tell mum to get under the shelter - a Morrison, indoors - but she was upstairs hoovering. and didn't hear. Suddenly, there was plasterand glass everywhere. It had fallen on the Post Office - where mum would have been at that time, had I not been unwell.

Philip
Welcome to my blog, and much thanks for the respose.

Wyoming Diva
So good to have you visiting. Your comment is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Dave King said...

Carl
Many thanks for those kind words.

barbara
Hi, and welcome to the blog. Your critique is very much appreciated, particularly the reference to "shattered lives". I must admit that the phrase did give me pause for thought at the time. The suggestion to use a broken object is a good one. I shall give it thoguht. Many thanks for the interest shown.

Rachel
Yes, it was fun doing it - and satisfying, too. Thanks.

Sheila
A warm welcome to you and many thanks for your visit and your comment. Much appreciated, both.

Windsmoke
Yes, true, though it did not seem sad at the time, exciting rather. It's only the adult reflections on it that imbue it with sadness. Of course, if we had been unfortunate enough to sustain ome personal loss through the war, that would no doubt have made a difference.

sharplittlepencil
Yes, it worried me the first time I really thought about those days and realized how blasé I'd been about what was happening around me. Thanks for your comment. The prompt was a beaut.

Doctor FTSE said...

Solid work, as usual,Dave. Good read.

Dave King said...

Doctor FTSE
As always, good to have you commenting. Thanks.

Madeleine Begun Kane said...

Clever! I enjoyed it.

The Unknowngnome said...

Very good. I like the touch of history