Sunset and Sunrise

I recently came across a poem written by my father in pencil on a piece of scrap paper. The poem, entitled 'Sunset and Sunrise' was apparently written on 5th June 1944, on the battlements of Dover Castle, where he was waiting with his Regiment to cross for the D Day invasion. The paper was sent with a letter to my mother who is now almost 95. Sent with my mother's permission.

SUNSET AND SUNRISE

I watched the sun go down last night; I saw him sink to rest:
I watched him shine with glowing light, then vanish in the west.
His awful face was fiery red;
He touched the earth with eerie glow.
The life-blood of a million dead
O’er England’s landscape seemed to flow.

To south, across the Dover Strait, a bloody pathway shone,
As if, from France the Nazi hate had caused the sea to don
The hue of all their victims’ blood.
The clouds above were livid too;
My mind weaved pictures as I stood,
I shuddered at their gloomy view.

The evil hosts of Nazi-dom, fanatics in their hate,
Across the narrow sea did come; and in a fearful spate
A sea of blood flowed o’er our land,
All conq’ring Hun! And yet my mind
Groped upward to th’unfault’ring Hand:
Surely His strength and help we’d find?
-------------------------
I watched the sun come up today------- and I am glad I did !
I watched him loose his quick’ning ray, and all my fears were hid.
Fair England smiled; her sweet face shone;
The landscape beamed; the sea seemed glad:
The doubts of yesterday were gone,
To harbour doubting thoughts was mad.

To south, the Nazi lands shrouded in gloomy haze
That must engulf them--- lands and men; so seemed it to my gaze.
For, in the morning’s cheery light
My fears were gone, my heart was sure;
The fear beget by coming night
Had vanished--- Britain would endure!

The War had dragged the earth in gloom, and fettered many a land,
And broken millions; yet the doom of Hitler is at hand.
For, sure as morning follows night,
So sure will chaos end in peace.
Sure as the darkness heralds light,
Peace heralds victory--- and release.

Boyd Rigby Dover.June 5th 1944

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