The Day the Lights went out

In memory of the lamps going out across Europe and the lives we lost -

The Day the Lights went out

A Sunday it was I think, yes a Sunday. Mum had been to Church.

Roast dinner, kids fighting in the garden, Mum laughing as they played.

Just another day, like any other day.

Dad moaned about those Suffragettes, Mum shook her head in despair.

Uncle Albert worried about the Emerald Isle, Auntie commented on the spuds.

Just another day, like any other day.

Cousin Alice was remembering the wedding, glamour in Berlin

The Kiaser, Tsar, our own King George - didn’t it prove they all got on?

Just another day, like any other day.

Granddad rocked back and forth and over a thousand miles away

Someone shot an Archduke, we didn’t know just who.

Just another day, like any other day.

It was August I think, yes it was August. Grey had gone to the Commons.

A light lunch, armies fighting on the border, Mum crying as they fought.

Just another day, like any other day.

Dad moaned about Ferdinand, Mum shook her head in despair,

Uncle Albert worried about Belgium, Auntie commented on the sprouts.

Just another day, like any other day.

Cousin Alice was remembering a wedding, unfashionable in the East End

The mother in law, cousins, our own old Gran – didn’t they all get on?

Just another day, like any other day.

The Foreign Secretary rocked Parliament, and many miles away

Someone shot soldiers, we never knew just who.

Just another day, like any other day.

Sir Edward returned to the Foreign Office and as the dawn was breaking,

not just another time, like any other time,

the gas lamps were dimmed and they stuttered out, going out all over Europe,

whispering, “We shall not see them lit again in our lifetime.’’