Gray Dawn
June 6th, 1944; day dawned, a pallor of gray
Plans take their shape for the coming foray
Men in ships ride the rough channel water
Waiting, nervous, in fear of the coming slaughter
Drizzling rain and overcast skies hinder war’s plan
But war must go forth; precious time cannot stand
The moment comes too soon; the “go” order given
Men rush forth from boats cast to death and heaven
Entrenched enemy upon the beaches; fires at will
Soldiers fall into chilly waters, bullets find their kill
The swirling waters take on a tint; a deep bloody red
It marks the loss of life; the count of the many dead
Still soldiers moved forward, progress marked in red
Soldiers fallen, wounded crying, others lying dead
Progress comes in inches; determination abounds
The fight rages for hours; all its blood and sounds
Allied Forces take the beachheads paid for in blood
Armies move to the beaches, inland they will flood
Fighting for this precious ground with all their might
Praying to just remain alive with the coming night
Site by site the enemy is routed from the fortifications
On forward, taking ground station by precious station
The enemy defeated slowly pulls back from the line
Dropping back to join forces and fortify the Rhine
The world can never forget the battles at Normandy
Where thousands spilled their blood in a cold,angry sea
To stop the progress of a tyrant’s rage upon the lands
And marked forever by the blood shed upon the sands
May such a day never come to man again in history
May peace abound and people know precious liberty
But never forget the bloody waters of life-blood’s stain
Bled by those who paid the price; freedom to remain
Truly these brave souls faced upon the gates of hell
Their courage pushing forward; the enemy finally fell
Perhaps these words should be engraved on their stone
“May mankind never have to face another gray dawn”
©Copyright WBrown2012. All Rights Reserved
5 June 2006
