Nearly sixty years back, in the blitz,
I was scared nearly to bits.
I'd fall to the floor
When I heard a plane's roar:
Will ours be the house that it hits.

My dad calmed me down, saying "Son
If it's got your name on it you're done.
If not you're OK,
You'll see one more day,
Otherwise then there's nowhere to run."

From now on I was not in a funk.
They'd not write Tiddy Ogg on their junk.
I'd do no more cringin'
When I heard a plane's engine
I would sleep quite sound in my bunk.

No I was not scared any more.
I heeded my old dad's folk-lore.
No I'd not be caught,
But I did spare a thought,
For the Doodlebug family next door.


Note for younger readers:  Doodlebug was the name given by the British
to the original V1 flying bomb.

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Last updated: Tue, 14 Sep 1999.