Interesting weekend ! I received a visit from Carmelo Russo and his wife. Mr.Russo is the gentleman who runs an Italian webisite named Timiolente that writes about life in wartime Adrano and it was he that translated my poem on Adrano into Italian. La poesia dedicata ad Adrano da Ron Goldstein Will write more when he posts further details on the site. Ron
I am not ashamed to say that tears are filling my eyes right now as I read through those poems. You gentlemen who were there, who experienced these things, survived them and who now are willing to help folks like me to learn about WW2 - you may not consider yourselves heroes but by George you are, every last one of you. RRTB
Here is one from written by Cyril Grimes who served with the 9th Battalion, Royal Sussex in the Far East. The Arakan Dawn on the Mayu Range Is always new and beautiful and strange to you: because the night before You're never absolutely sure The day is past Was not your last. And so the early golden ray That brings you yet another day Evokes a silent grateful prayer It's nice to find that you're still there. The Arakan was the first action in which the 9th took part. Here, Cyril contemplates his survival amidst the natural beauty of the Arakan, no doubt thinking of lost comrades.
Here is another one of Cyrils. In Memoriam By the road and the hills lie the scatter seed A bamboo cross on each lonely grave Shimmering silence and jungle weed Enfold and touch lightly- here sleep the brave Not yet the fruit of your dying be tasted The sun and the rain no harvest unfold But rest, we shall see that the seed was not wasted The living remember, the tale shall be told Cyril Grimes, Sgt. 9th Battallion, Royal Sussex Rgt. I believe both poems were written when the author and my father were convalescing in India after contracting hepatitis.This latter poem was one of the factors that lead me to publish Cyril's diaries - I did want their tale to be told.