D-Day 72 years later

D-Day 72 Years Later

The sky was dark

The wind grew strong

5000 ships lay laden

With equipment and troops galore

Under heavy fire from guns
Whizzing over head 
Into burden limbs
Shells landing
Bursting through bodies
Blood and bodies lining the waters
A cacophony of sound
Reverberated through the hearts and minds
As the overloaded boats  

Overlooking sanding beaches

Once the crown vacation spots of Europe

156,000 American, British and Canadian forces

Landed on five beaches in Normandy

Some killed before they reached the coast

Drowned with all equipment on

Their boats short of their goal

Others fought to swim to shore

Losing guns and equipment to survive

The big guns picking some of them off

Some still bravely made to shore

Shores mined, covered with wooden stakes

Metal tripods and barbed wire

Tanks and men on foot

The troops trying to clear them

Most difficult and dangerous

Added to the pain and horror

Two battalions of Germans

And a Panzer division

Awaited the Canadians on Juno beach

The Royal Winnipeg Rifles and

The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada

Fought strong and hard

Casualties amongst them highest

In the opening waves of battle

The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada

And all our Canadian troops

Scrapped, tussled and clashed

As did all the other troops

Proving their mettle

They reached their D-Day objectives

The Canadians took 

Juno, and so the villages needed too

They made us truly proud

Canadian landings on Juno Beach

One of the most successful

But we never forget

The sacrifice of those

Who gave their all

So we could end the war

To have peace again

And enjoy the fruits of life

So on this day 72 years later

We remember their sacrifice

And every day

For their love of country

And home they forfeited

Peace of mind, fear and life

We shall never forget

Their sacrifice 

And remember them forever

American, English and Canadian

One and all

Forever more

 ©Sheilagh Lee June 6, 2016