My Dad

My Father was born in the year 1916,
In the war to end all wars, or so they thought,
But not such a good year that it might seem,
He was just 23 when the next one was fought,
So he was called up on that fateful day,
Given a rifle, big boots, a steel helmet to wear,
His wife left alone with a child on the way,
He was sent off to fight, his wife didn't know where,

So one day before she heard the war start,
She started in labour, a child on the way,
Eleven fifteen next day when the sirens took part,
We both heard them wail, I was born on that day,
From her heart full of love I had more than my share,
From a lonely new mother, to me just hours old,
An absentee Father sent God only knows where,
His whereabouts secret, nobody told,
So she dried up her eyes, put comb through her hair,
And said "Mr. Hitler, you can't frighten this pair".

Five long years later we were both still alive,
Through air raids and bombing, explosion and blast,
As a family together we fought to survive,
Everything rationed and running out fast,
The very same problem for all down our street,
We shared what we had so that none went without,
Small portions of food to last through the week,
And when victory came we all gave a great shout,
But the best thing of all, my Dad's coming home,
Mum said that Dad's tall, handsome and strong,
I'm nearly six now, he'll be surprised how I've grown,
I hope when he gets here we'll both get along.