An Airman’s Vision by L.A.C. D.E. Paul

The following poem was written by Leading Aircraftsman Douglas E. Paul just days before his death.

An Airman's Vision

The sun sets in a haze of golden mist,
The sky above a glorious array
Of pink and red, of blue and amethyst,
A colourful farewell to fleeting day.
 
And soon the stars from heaven above look down
On darkened towns and cities here below,
And from afar across the slumbering town
There tolls a bell so mellow, soft and low.
 
With all so seeming peaceful and so still,
 I soon forget the dreadful thought of war;
And fancy wanders on where’er it will,
Back to happy home and days of yore.
 
But now the drone of planes I hear above--
All hell breaks loose from out that sky serene.
There is no God, no joy, no love!
There’s only hate and war and things obscene!
 
But stop—consider yet again, my boy;
This war is but a passing phase of life.
You’ll soon return to homeland full of joy
And put behind you all this awful strife.

The hand of God will sweep away the clouds,
And help us vanquish our relentless foe,
And lift forever war’s dull drabby shrouds--
Allow eternal peace and truth to glow.
 
So be it known to all men here on earth--
Things can’t go on for long as they are now;
He gives us death, but also gives us birth,
and He will see us through our woe, I vow!

L.A.C. D.E. Paul.