The War Bride
THE WAR BRIDE
They walked hand in hand, barefoot through the meadow
The birds were in song and the bees were in flight
It seemed that they only had eyes for each other
The buttercups danced, in the warm evening light
They paused for a while, for a kiss and a cuddle
Then dipped their feet in the cool of the stream
Then off to the house of their dreams, down the laneway
Together forever, behold loves young dream
In a white linen dress and a garland of roses
She wed in the place, where her wedding had been
And gallant was he, in his service apparel
They danced in the spring air of nineteen fourteen
With tears in her eyes, she waves down the laneway
He was off to the fight, in the war to end wars
She waited and prayed, put a light by the window
He witnesses horror and death by the score
Well the hedge has grown over, she can’t see the meadow
The home that she loved is all creaky and cold
She looks down the lane and remembers the good times
The picture she holds, is now fifty years old
Her feet haven’t cooled in the stream for a long time
All her memories fade, since her day as a bride
She remembers her dance, in the spring with her loved one
Then she cuddles her picture of him with such pride
No flowers in the garden, just weeds which grow tall now
The kids call her names, as they hurry on by
That crazy old woman, who stares down the laneway
The taunts hurt her feelings, though the names make her cry
One night in the springtime, he came back to visit
He beckoned to her, to come to his place
She was found with her picture, and a garland of roses
She wore a white linen dress; she had a smile on her face
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