WE HAD DREAMS

H. W. Bryce

We had dreams…

(a stream of consciousness)

We are old who have fought
For freedom. We had dreams.

We dreamed of peace,
Of warm, safe beds,
Of love and children,
Little kittens and puppy dogs,
A job, respect, and family love,
A sense of simple worth of self.

The torch has passed.
We now depend on you.
We wish our bodies
Were as strong as were our wills,
But alas, we age.
Keep the torch alight.

Fight off the blight
Of torpor and neglect.
Let your spirit reflect
The strength of your soul
And do your country proud.

So say we, the old who fought.
Live the lessons war has taught.
Precious is the peace,
A noble trust. Do not let it rust.

We are old who have fought.
Join with the young now in our footsteps
To protect the peace that we have wrought
with blood and sweat and tears
to tame the fears
brought on by treach’rous enemy.

Use well your freedom,
For you are young and vital;
Do not squander this your chance
To build a peaceful world.
Do not let the peace fade out.
Remember us, the old who fought.

Now our bodies wither,
But our minds do not;
Neither do our dreams.

We are old who have fought
For freedom. We had dreams.
For you. Fight for them.
— —

Image credit: https://pixabay.com/en/users/ClkerFreeVectorImages-3736/

Support the poppy campaign.