‘900 Days’ Poem by guy lipmore

German hoards cut off the city, scene set for a calamity.
Leningrad is braced, ultimate challenge to be faced.
Bombing, shelling commenced, the people commenced their defence.

The fear and trepidation, also grit and determination.
Sacrifice and fortitude, sheer bloody attitude.
The will to survive, the instinct to stay alive.

Months to years, desperation and tears.
Strangle hold continues, life or death, win or lose.
On and on it went, ceaseless misery, the Germans would vent.

Hunger turned to starvation, harrowing situation.
Rations reduced further still, pushing their spirit and will.
Registration of the dead ceased, as the death toll increased.
Depth of deprivation shown, reduced to consume their ‘own.’

Russians losing ‘inner’ control, undermining the final goal.
New faces brought in, to gain the ‘final’ win,
More food and ammunition, to end the years of attrition.

Using the frozen lake, to end the stalemate.
The enemy tried to stop, however fate said ‘not’!
Leningrad would not be beat, the ‘Swastika’ were in retreat.
The tide had turned, Nazi plans were burned..

11/11/06