VE Day by Vivien Teasdale

A job to be done. Two thousand days,

two thousand nights of curfews, blackouts, bombings.

Conflicting feelings. Lonely bereavements, sacrifice

and struggle. A world at war.

But you took the fight to the beaches and won.

Then lights reflected midnight tears and triumph.

You told us of the hugging, masks discarded,

carillons and clapping, sweets and dancing,

parades, cheers and street parties.

An end of tribulation, the task complete.

That brief period of rejoicing!

While in some quiet corner of your mind

you held your fears, remembered griefs

as fate allotted joy or cost,

and pondered what was gained and what was lost.