D-Day

Frightened, furious, determined men
Allies from Blighty, Stars and stripes, Maple leaf and more
We must always remember then
When they stormed through the tyrant's door

Moon and weather conspire to let them go
Utah, Omaha, Juno, Gold and Sword
Spitting fire from the skies, unleashing hurricanes on an enemy below
Neptune's beginning of Overlord

The rest is history, long and bloody and yet
It would take a book for me to tell
Whatever else we do, we must not forget
That for you and me, the fallen fell.

An old dog remembers

I remember:

When I could run and chase a cat
And I could bark as loud as that
And I could even catch a rat
Chew to bits my favourite mat.

I was, you know, as strong as an ox
More than a match for any fox
But the budgie would sit upon my head
I would sniff the hamster going to bed
And let the children pat my head

I was made of patient stuff
And when children were a bit too rough
I thought, young things are all the same
So turned it into a boisterous game
Of chase and catch and fetch and drop
Hoping that it would never stop.

But dinner calls, and through the door
My bowl would be on the kitchen floor
Full of things I liked to eat.
Sometimes savoury, sometimes sweet
Scraps from the table, and often more.

I understand English, Welsh and Dog.
And with a bit of effort can understand Frog.
I listen to everything and know how to spell
With my lead in my mouth, I ran to the door
For I know what w-a-l-k stands for.

I remember the rides in the car
I used to think, I do hope its far.
I could run on the beach
And splash in the sea
Or play in the park
Chase a cat up a tree

Ah yes, that used to be me.