They are back from Normandy,
From that annual display
Of gratitude and remembrance for
Sacrifices they made on D Day.
The dignitaries queued eagerly
To be seen giving their thanks
To the annually decreasing numbers
Remaining in those Veterans' ranks.
The anniversary being over
It's back to their places of care
Where for the whole of the next year,
Half forgotten they'll live there,
The freedoms that they fought for,
The things for which they died,
Are day by day being eroded
Because their leaders lied.
The rich get richer by
Hoarding the Nations prosperity
And clamp down on the poor
In the name and cause of austerity
How many of the survivors
Of that long ago finished war
Sometime sit and ponder
Is this what so many died for.
They have time to think on it
As they are cynically filed away
Until, with the passing months,
Comes the next liberation day.
And then those still surviving
Are ushered back on parade
To be patronised by those dignities
And hear the old platitudes made.
The Old Men Of Normandy,
Those who managed to survive ,
Are again paraded and exhibited
Just for still being alive.
Don't just use and exploit them.
They have the right to expect
To be treated with honour,
With dignity and respect.
Those Old Men Of Normandy
Gradually fade away and now
Each succeeding generation
Never think to question how
All the sacrifices they made,
All their courage and bravery,
Have resulted in a society of
A majority held in modern slavery.
