How Proud . . . ! Poem by A. P. Herbert

(To the Luftwaffe)
How proud you must be, boys, you who were Lords of the Air,
Playing with fireworks, deep in a concrete cave.
Pressing a button and killing you know not where,
You who were going to teach us the ways of the brave!

How proud you must be, boys, hearing the soldiers cry
'Come to our aid, Luftwaffe!' How proud you must be,
Answering 'Soldier, we have no time to fly:
We are shooting from holes at hospitals over the sea.'

How proud you will be, boys, hearing the children say
'How did you march against England? Tell us the tale.'
'I hid in a hole, child, many a mile away.
Aiming at Portsmouth and hitting the Maida Vale.'
July 9,1944