By William Smardo

Bombs popped in the city like fireworks on New Year’s Eve,

Soldiers covered the beach, dotted like ants on a chip.

I looked out across the skyline for a boat on which I could leave.

There was chatter about hope and escape, but it was naive.

There were too many of us and the Germans had us pushed to the continents lip.

Bombs popped in the city like fireworks on New Year’s Eve.

It seemed that on this beach in France, my duty would finally relieve,

I clenched the rosary in my pocket with a death grip.

I looked out across the skyline for a boat on which I could leave.

They reach us here and we can’t even win from the sleeve.

I saw some soldiers load up, but it was a lone ship.

Bombs popped in the city like fireworks on New Year’s Eve.

We were an army pinned down, one our Allies could not retrieve

Death seemed imminent, I just waited for the crack of a whip

I looked out across the skyline for a boat on which I could leave.

Then there was hope, I looked out at the horizon in disbelief.

The skyline was spotted with civilian boats, they’d made the trip.

Bombs popped in the city like fireworks on New Year’s Eve,

I looked out across the skyline for a boat on which I could leave.