Tag Archives: war

“Normandy” selected for display at Army Flying Museum

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I’m honoured to have my poem, Normandy, selected for display at the https://www.armyflying.com/museum from the 3rd November.

Inspired by the history of the army air corps and its predecessors from the second world war (Glider pilot regiments and the royal flying corps of the first world war). Inspired by stories of courage, bravery, and comradeship.

Alongside the poems there will be a mass art installation of over 500 knitted mini medals created by groups and individuals from across the UK and further afield inspired by stories and artefacts that are on display at the museum. All poems and medals will be on display for visitors to see at the museum from the 3rd November until 10th December 2020.

Other poems are available in my anthologies: Unzipped: The Mind of a Madman and First Words.

Normandy

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Normandy

 

Upon the beach, they landed thus.
They knew their job; they made no fuss.
The ramp lowered, metal met sand,
They landed in this foreign land.

Without a sound, shipmates fell.
Bullets ringing through this hell.
Running forward, to secure the place.
From an evil, fascist, race.

Sinking in sand, feet swamped by tide.
Bodies floating, on either side.
Heat from explosions, searing hot.
As they plough on, through this rot.

Trenching through nests, of barbed wire,
Pushing on, through machine-gun fire.
Taking out turrets, killing those within.
No time to consider, the mortal sin.

Making peace, out of war.
Bodies piled, injured and sore.
We must never forget, never sway.
To always remember, D-Day.

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©David E. Gates – 6th June 2019.