Les Americains... (Translation) . Poem by Michael Walker

American troops are in England near the end of World War 11, (as they were in New Zealand) . He sees them dancing at the Woolpack, an historic pub in Romney Marsh, Kent. The American troops all wear medals and leap from their jeeps; he thinks they are 'Strangers/ from paradise'. They pour whisky into his mother's cup of tea' before veering off past the missionary hall 'to their icy dawn on Omaha Beach' The last words in the poem carry great weight.Omaha Beach is in Normandy, France; where British and American troops landed just before D-Day, which effectively ended the war.They were fighting against the German Infantry Division onshore. The Americans landed at the east. Utah, the British elsewhere. The Americans suffered 2000 casualties in the landings, the British far fewer,
A poem of joy in the opening lines, and death in the last line.
Also a poem of humanity and courage.