RAINY DAYS AND RAINBOW NIGHTS
by Peter Owen

THOSE WAR -TIME SKIES STILL TRAUMATISED BY SLEEPNESS NIGHTS AND FRIGHT.
OF BOMBS UNLOADING, SHELLS EXPLODING,
RAININ’ DOWN, REMOVING LIFE.
AND EVEN THE VERMIN, SENT MAD WITH THE SQUIRMING,
DECIDED TO GET ON THEIR BIKES.
THEY WERE DIVING IN TRENCHES, DEPRIVED OF THEIR SENSES,
BY WATCHING THE COLOURS OF FIGHT.
            YEAH
RAINY DAYS AND RAINBOW NIGHTS,
DAYS WHEN BOYS, WERE DROPPING TOYS, TO JOIN A FIGHT.
RAINY DAYS AND RAINBOW NIGHTS,
DAYS OF BOYS, AND ORPHANED TOYS, AND TEARS OF FRIGHT.
RAINY DAYS - YEAH - AND THOSE RAINBOW NIGHTS,
            WILL LIVE FOREVER.
MOST GOTTA ONE WAY TICKET TO THE THEATRE OF WAR,
AND WHEN THOSE SAD SKIES SAW THE AFTERMATH, THEY CALLED OUT TO THE LORD.
THEIR WEEPY EYES DREW ALL THE DARK CLOUDS, TO THOSE RAINY GROUNDS.
AND AS THE HANDS OF GOD CONSOLED’ EM,
WELL - THEIR EYES THEY TOO EXPLODED,
AND TEARS, LIKE THE COLOURS OF FEARS, CAME RAININ DOWN.
            YEAH
RAINY DAYS AND RAINBOW NIGHTS,
DAYS WHEN BOYS, WERE DROPPING TOYS, TO JOIN A FIGHT.
RAINY DAYS AND RAINBOW NIGHTS,
DAYS OF BOYS, AND ORPHANED TOYS, AND TEARS OF FRIGHT.
RAINY DAYS - YEAH - AND THOSE RAINBOW NIGHTS,
            WILL LIVE FOREVER.

NOW OLD MEN TRUDGE GRAVEYARDS, TIPPING CAPS, TELLING TALES OF FRIGHT.
WHEN BOYS WERE FLYING COFFINS, AND HOW Y’CAN DROWN WHILE YER STILL ALIGHT.
THEY SPEAK OF FLEAS IN THEM DAMNED TRENCHES, ENJOYING PICNICS WITH THE LICE.
AND AS THE OLD BOYS KNOW, UNLIKE THOSE BOYS BELOW, SOME NIGHTMARES LAST Y’LIFE
LIKE THE ECHOES OF THAT SCREAMING, IT NEVER DILUTES INSIDE Y’MIND.
TO FLASHBACKS T’YESTERYEAR, T’PALS YER LEFT BEHIND.
            WELL,
FATHER TIME HE’S ADDED WRINKLES, BLINDING THE LOOK OF FRIGHT,
BUT, WEARY EYES COME ALIVE IN PROUDNESS, OF THOSE RAINY DAYS,
AND THOSE RAINBOW NIGHTS. YEAH - EH - EH -EH’ FREEDOM FOREVEeeer ~~~~~.

Rainy days & rainbow nights was an inspiration I had, because on the 12th August 2002 one more boy rejoined his pals. That boy was a desert rat, and left home at 15yrs old. He dropped his toys, ignored his mother and was off. Take care dad. The true horrors of what really happened out their, are best left to those in the know. My words are simply a song.

To all the boys & girls of yesteryear, whatever part you played, on land, on seas, or above, thank you for giving us all a freedom & a future. So many of you said goodbye to loved ones, which was to be so, so sadly your last farewell. Time will unite you all side by side in a total peace. Also, for all other members of our Forces and Services killed or injured in further conflicts since. Never forgetting Bert, my father - in - law, horribly wounded in WW11, yet like all those heroes, kept it to himself. What boys & what men!!! On Remembrance Day. Please give generously.

PASSIM PAXVOBISCUM’ DE MORTUIS NIL NISI BONUM.

Here, there and everywhere, peace be with you. Say nothing but good about the dead.

Peter Owen

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