D-Day - June 6th 1944 Poem by Deanna Samuels

It was a long time ago for those of us still around,
a memory now, but stays so profound.
In those days, no such technology of instant news
of being there with digital lens views,
news came on the radio once arrived at the BBC.

Early that morning, the morning of June 6th 1944
a special broadcast was made to the Nation,
a huge event was unfolding, taking place at sea.
In a fuller report later that morn,
we were told of the super force, a modern armada
of every type of vessel, however large or small,
called to the task of conveying men and arms
to make landings on the beaches of the Normandy Coast.
Our womenfolk now knew where their men had been sent
and wondered if they would ever come home again.
Our great Churchill explained, this is our last great stand
to hold back the Hun from taking our land.
All of us, everywhere in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales,
listened intently to any news the BBC gave.
As the hours went by, we heard of the losses,
the sacrifices made by every soldier that crossed,
facing intense gun fire, bombardment, air attacks galore.
All day long, the armies - Britain, Canada, America and more -
heroically held their own, moved slowly forward from the beach
despite the huge personnel casualties and terrible conditions.
It was a miracle, the invasion held, the allied armies spread inland.

Newsreels finally arrived a few days later in local cinemas
showing us the terrible slaughter that our guys endured.
Many more months would go by before final victory declared.

Today was June 6th,1944, the day of D-Day.


Written at Courtice, Ontario - 6th June 2024