SYMBOLS OF THE LATE WAR
(First published in “Control Column” 1967; re-published in “Winged Words” November 1973)(R.A.F. Henlow, May 1967)
No real remembrance lingers here
of sharp-edged symbols of a sharp-edged fear –
Just “aeroplanes-in-comics”: you point and “BANG”
(It’s easy when you get the hang
and, of course, quite painless).
- paper villains, paper heroes, paper glory,
penny plain, twopence coloured, threepence gaudy.
No, don’t explain to little boys
how dearly bought are adult toys.
When war’s a glory-game for youth,
in black-and-white for twelve-year-olds, truth
is better varnished.
Just watch ’em, squeaky with unshadowed pleasure
seeking out each antique treasure:
Noughts AND crosses. In the line
a neat refurbished Me109
is angular and elegant, innocuous and quaint –
its big black crosses innocent as paint.
