Eighty this year

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> Eighty this year

> 

> I'm all of eighty this year

> born 1st July, 1933

> okay, so I'm not exactly in top gear

> but don't want tea and sympathy

> 

> How time passes by

> the changes in history I've seen

> but so far life has been good to try

> England still has a Queen

> 

> When I look back to my childhood days

> brought up in World War Two

> how the world has changed in so many ways

> for the many but, not alas the few.

> 

> Those in their heyday who died in combat

> lives so short yet I'm still here

> but I know what it's like for once I sat

> near deaths door and life was so precious, so dear.

> 

> I had hope for a bright new future looming

> when the terrible years of war had ended

> in the sixties the world was booming

> the severity of war was almost mended

> 

> But in the seventies another change came

> kind attitudes were replaced with aggression

> and down the line everything was just the same

> unemployment, adversity, depression.

> 

> There are times I've had negative thoughts

> those who fought and died for our freedom

> was it all in vain: see now the warts

> are they really remembered and do we heed them?

> 

> I once read a piece which put me to rights

> theory was that despite our misgivings

> one can never put out the lights

> no doubt it's all part of living

> Not for us to reason why

> for we are simply passing tenants

> If we try it'll be pie in the sky

> and, for that we have to pay our penance

> so in this the year of my eightieth  birthday

> 

> I thank my God for all I have here

> and hope he will give me some more time to live and write

> on this wonderful blue planet so dear.

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