Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Cousin(s) (05/22/08)
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TITLE: On The Sands Of Normandy | Previous Challenge Entry
By Mariane Holbrook
05/28/08 -
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There'll be bluebirds over
The white cliffs of Dover,
Tomorrow, just you wait and see.
There'll be love and laughter
And peace ever after.
Tomorrow, when the world is free.
The shepherd will tend his sheep.
The valley will bloom again.
And Jimmy will go to sleep
In his own little room again.
There'll be bluebirds over
The white cliffs of Dover,
Tomorrow, just you wait and see.
Written by Nat Burton and Walter Kent
***
He tossed and turned the night before the battle would begin.
Twelve thousand ships and aircraft with one mission: “We Must Win!”
Since early nineteen forty-three, the careful plans were laid
That on June sixth in forty-four, the Allies would invade.
From England on that fateful dawn, to Normandy they sped.
The air support that they received reduced their numbered dead.
My cousin Marvin was among the soldiers on that day
Who joined in the bombardment; ‘twas a massive arms display.
He lost most of his hearing from the shells that would explode.
He later earned the Silver Star for courage that he showed;
Exposed himself to German bullets time and time again,
He killed two German soldiers as he freed two wounded men.
The wounds that he received that day were greater than he knew.
He tried to keep on fighting though nobody asked him to.
While lying in the foxhole ‘midst the muffled sounds of war,
He entered his eternal home where war is fought no more.
I wonder what he thought of as he knew his time drew near.
I feel that he had peace within and died not knowing fear.
I’m sure that he remembered being baptized in the creek
And surely he recalled that God will answer those who seek.
His body was among four thousand shipped back home one day.
And then he was interred nearby; the skies were dark and gray.
The military funeral was impressive, tears were shed.
The letters from the army and from officers were read.
One day the war was over and his mother heard a knock.
She opened up the door and she received an awful shock.
The Filipino soldier, wounded, bleeding, left for dead
That Marvin once had rescued, stood there weeping as he said:
“Your son who saved my life that day was also my best friend.
I held him in that foxhole right until the very end.
He spoke of you so often while he fought to keep you free
And he became my hero on the sands of Normandy.”
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I'm not sure that the song at the beginning added much to the entry--maybe if it were playing in the background...wish we could arrange for that!
Though I haven't served in the military myself, I can definitely appreciate this piece. Thank you for sharing it.
Your rhymes made this easy to read. Well done!