The Bombers

The Bombers

A poem about bombing with a sketch of two Whitleys flying amongst searchlights.

One printed sheet

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NGeachDG160401-02

The Bombers
While we lie safely sleeping
In city, town and shire
Their wings are southward sweeping
To blast the foe with fire.
Our leeway tends to lessen
With every bomb-load thrown
On Berlin, Kiel and Essen,
On Hamburg and Cologne.

For Coventry and Dover,
For London and the Clyde,
We make them pay twice over
With interest supplied.
The R.A.F. makes certain
Its vengeance shall be sure,
And draw a crimson certain
Above Rhine and Ruhr.

Each night o’er Lille and Calais
In lofty flight or low
To raise their record tally
Our waves of raiders flow.
Lone listeners, who have heard them
Go past ‘twixt cloud and foam,
Pray God to speed and guard them
And guide them safely home.

Not one will fail in duty,
And some the sea-wind brings
Back through the Dawn’s pink beauty
With glory on their wings;
But out there, crashed and burning,
Their boldest comrades lie;
For these is no returning
Triumphant down the sky.

Salute them, O civilians,
These men in Air Force blue!-
How can you in your millions
Prove worthy of these few?
What can ye do to aid them
And honour brave blood spilt
But launch more planes and lade them
With bombs your love has built!

WILL H. OGILVIE